Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park is aiming for a 90 percent occupancy rate in the first quarter of the year, according to chairman Kevin Choi. Opened last month, the 87-hectare SAR section of the park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop, is part of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Cooperation Zone. Construction of three of the eight building complexes scheduled for completion in the first phase has been completed, with two of them dedicated to housing laboratories and the third for accommodation. Speaking after an RTHK radio show on Saturday, Kevin Choi, who is also the permanent secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said more than 80 percent of the floor space in the two laboratory complexes had already been leased out. A quarter of the firms occupying these lab spaces are from overseas, with the rest being from the mainland or Hong Kong. "We believe that the advantages of Hetao and the loop are actually very attractive to all these enterprises, especially because of those unique advantages that we can offer on cross-border research and capabilities, and also future policies between Shenzhen and Hong Kong on innovation collaboration," Choi said when asked whether the park had any target mix regarding the origins of the leasing companies. "So we don't have a real origin... but we wish to ensure that they are of the right industry mix." As for the cross-river bridge linking both sides of the park that is under construction, Choi said that firms will have to draw up a list of staff able to go freely between the two places to ensure talent from Hong Kong and Shenzhen will be able to use the bridge with the "right facilitation, facilities and measures". The flow of people will be as free as possible, Choi added, in compliance with the laws and regulations of both governments and firms.