Attracting investments and talent is just as crucial as building infrastructure when it comes to the development of a massive technology zone co-developed by Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said.

Three buildings in the Hong Kong section of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone have been completed and Sun said they will be put into use by the end of the year.

The structures are two wet laboratory buildings and one accommodation complex.

Speaking to RTHK in an interview marking three years into Chief Executive John Lee's administration, Sun described several aspects that are essential to the success of the tech zone.

“Besides hardware, it's also about software," he said.

"By software, I mean how we can create a favourable business, scientific research and exchange environment so that top talent and businesses would be willing to move to Hetao.

"These aspects complement each other and cannot exist without one another.”

Sun said the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park has been in talks with more than 20 companies in sectors such as life and health technology and microelectronics to persuade them to move to Hetao.

Officials are also holding talks with their Shenzhen counterparts over arrangements that allow the free movement of biological specimens within the Hetao cooperation zone, with details to be announced in due course, he said.

Sun also said a plan to make a locally developed chatbot available for public use by the end of the year remains on track.

“HKChat” is market-ready in terms of technological capability, he said, noting that what remains to be done involves tests on cybersecurity and system stability.

The technology chief also said the administration is committed to further developing artificial intelligence and will invest more in this area, despite government budget cuts.

He added that increased use of artificial intelligence to improve governance will be highlighted in the upcoming Policy Address.