【明報專訊】THE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY PARK at the Lok Ma Chau Loop, to be jointly developed by the Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities, has renewed heated discussion in society about promoting the development of Hong Kong's innovation and technology (IT) industry. For Hong Kong to play catch-up in that field, no doubt infrastructure will be important. But what is the most crucial is manpower training. As pointed out by Professor Tsui Lap-chee, President of the Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong, the city's enrolments for subjects like sciences and advanced mathematics have declined steadily in recent years, leaving a void in Hong Kong's supply of IT talent. This is giving cause for concern. "STEM", the English acronym for "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics", has become the new trend in education globally. It is necessary for Hong Kong to promote an atmosphere of science and consolidate the foundations for the IT industry with education being the starting point.