More than 60 firms have already signed leases in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, just nine months after the completion of three buildings in the tech hub, Chief Executive John Lee said on Monday. Lee noted that this means 80 percent of the floor space in two of the buildings housing laboratories at the tech hub has now been leased out. These firms include those from the mainland, overseas and local companies. The 87-hectare SAR section of the park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop is part of the larger Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Cooperation Zone which stretches across the Shenzhen River. The three completed structures in the Hong Kong portion of the park were topped out in March, including two for laboratories and one for accommodation. Speaking at the park’s opening ceremony, Lee said the remaining five buildings in phase one will be completed in stages from 2027, adding that construction for phase two will be accelerated under a public-private partnership approach. Once both phases are finished, the Hong Kong section will be able to offer two million square metres of floor space, a 70 percent increase over the original plan, he said. The chief executive also announced that construction has begun on the cross-river bridge linking the Hong Kong and Shenzhen sides of the park. He described the Hetao Cooperation Zone as crucial for national innovation goals. “The development goal of the Hetao is to become a world-class innovation platform – a major cooperation zone where the country can leverage its geographical advantages across two social, economic, and judicial systems, with technological innovation as its central theme,” Lee said. Among those who attended the ceremony were Xu Qifang, executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Zhou Ji, director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong, as well as Luo Huanghao, Shenzhen's vice mayor. Xu extended Beijing’s warmest congratulations in his remarks, adding that the park will drive Hong Kong’s innovation and technology growth while providing strong support for integrated development across the Greater Bay Area. Several SAR officials, including Financial Secretary Paul Chan, his deputy, Michael Wong, and innovation and technology chief Sun Dong were also present.