The document discusses Hong Kong's opportunity to become the Knowledge Centre of Asia and innovation hub for Greater China. Hong Kong is well-positioned due to its trusted business environment, excellent education, infrastructure, respected rule of law including IP law, and role as a bridge between China and the rest of the world. If Hong Kong leverages its human capital and expertise in intellectual capital management, it can help transform China's economy and create 20,000 high-paying professional jobs. A focal point is needed to help move organizations along the path of growth in the knowledge economy through coaching and mentoring. Doing so will benefit not just Hong Kong but China as well.

1. Hong Kong as the
Knowledge Centre of Asia and the
Innovation and Technology Transfer
Centre in Greater China
By Dr Gordon McConnachie, Founding Chairman of Scottish Intellectual Assets Centre and
Chief Technology Officer of Asia Pacific Intellectual Capital Centre
The opportunity for Hong Kong to in this new high-end business
move to the next level of services employment market in the
performance in the modern economy legal, innovation support service, IP
has never been greater than it is trading and technology transfer
today, as indeed is the opportunity sectors.
for Hong Kong to provide significant
support to China as the world’s The unique qualities of Hong Kong
largest nation fulfils its destiny and are well known: a trusted place to do
moves from the industrial age fully business, excellent education at all
into the modern economy. levels, tremendous infrastructure, a
respected rule of law including IP
However, this great potential has law, a vibrant city, a bridge between
only been perceived by too few China-ASEAN and the rest of the
people in Hong Kong and there is a world and a part of China at the
risk that the opportunity may not be same time.
exploited fully. This would not
bring optimum outcomes for China’s Growth in the modern economy is
modernization and economic driven by the astute use of
development ambitions as reflected knowledge and networks, in other
in the 11th Five Year Plan and for words by the employment of
Hong Kong’s own economic intellectual capital. The developed
restructuring and transformation. human resources of Hong Kong, by
Hong Kong is well poised to become their historic bi-lingual upbringing,
THE Knowledge Centre of Asia with have the education, business
significant spin off effects in experience and flexibility to work
mainland China. effectively with only a little coaching
in order to use intellectual capital
As the service centre for China, there management tools created in the
is also the potential to create up to more developed countries to the
20,000 highly paid professional jobs fullest in reaping the benefits of the
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Asia Pacific Intellectual Capital Centre White Paper #3 (August 2008)
© Asia Pacific Intellectual Capital Centre 2008 All Rights Reserved

2. knowledge based economy. Hong downside risk of being left behind in
Kong also has the skills to work with the race for superiority in a future
China as she transforms from an world of knowledge economies. To
agro-industrial society to a modern act on these opportunities does not
agro-industrial-knowledge based benefit Hong Kong alone, but it will
society. The contribution this highly also benefit the mainland. From my
developed pool of human resources contacts with various mainland
can make to Hong Kong’s own organsations, China does certainly
economic and technology appreciate Hong Kong’s role as a
transformation and the results that bridge to the West and as the city
can be achieved in partnership with that is best poised amongst all
China should in no way be under Chinese cities that can come up with
estimated. innovative solutions to help resolve
the Intellectual Property Rights
As has been the case in other issues China has with the West.
countries like Japan, Scotland and
Singapore, Hong Kong needs a focal As I understand it from my
point to create awareness, to help colleagues in Hong Kong, various
coach, diagnose and mentor as these Intellectual Capital Management
fundamental and crucial steps are initiatives are being undertaken by
made to help move companies mainland organizations, such as the
(including SMEs), universities, the China-ASEAN Intellectual
government and society along the Property and Intellectual Capital
growth path. Such a focal point must Conference to be held in Beijing on
play many roles: one possible 11-12 December 2008.
scenario is outlined in the paper I
wrote in January 2006 entitled There is a bright future ahead for
“Unleashing Economic Potential in Hong Kong, but it requires
the Knowledge Economy”. This government leadership, supportive
paper focused on China is based on government policies to realise this
an earlier paper designed specifically future. Working with intellectual
for Hong Kong1. capital is 5% inspiration and 95%
perspiration, in other words simply
In the rest of the world, regions and hard work and common sense.
countries which are moving ahead
on these opportunities at full speed. If Hong Kong chooses to follow this
Hong Kong should be aware of those path of growth, there will be full
opportunities as well as the support of the Intellectual Assets
Centre in Scotland and the Global
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Network of Intellectual Capital
Concept paper and proposal by Gordon
Centres, both of which I co-founded.
McConnachie in May 2005 and January 2006.
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Asia Pacific Intellectual Capital Centre White Paper #3 (August 2008)
© Asia Pacific Intellectual Capital Centre 2008 All Rights Reserved