The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, and the Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, attended different forums of the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit held in Hangzhou today (November 21) and exchanged views on Hong Kong's latest developments in innovation and technology with representatives of government institutions, international organisations, enterprises and research institutes from the Mainland and abroad.
They attended the opening ceremony and plenary session of the Summit yesterday (November 20). The Summit, with the theme "Embracing a People-centered and AI for Good Digital Future – Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace", is hosted by the World Internet Conference.
Ms Cheong attended the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Internet Development Forum and delivered a keynote speech today, stressing that Hong Kong is pressing ahead to build itself into an international innovation and technology centre, with a view to creating new quality productive forces through scientific innovation.
She pointed out that Hong Kong is actively taking forward the development of innovation and technology in the GBA by promoting data flows, and is also accelerating the development of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. The Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone was promulgated by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government yesterday, under which facilitation policy measures enabling the flow of personnel, materials, capital and data between the Hong Kong Park and the Shenzhen Park will be explored with the relevant central authorities under the "one country, two systems" and "one zone, two parks" principles. The policy measures will help promote technological and industrial innovation and make the Hetao Co-operation Zone a crucial source of new quality productive forces for the GBA and the country.
Ms Cheong then attended the Digital Economy Forum. In her keynote address, she noted that Hong Kong is driving its digital economy by using data as a key element through four directions: enhancing Hong Kong's digital policy, strengthening digital infrastructure, promoting digital industrialisation and industrial digitisation, and expanding international co-operation in the digital economy. The HKSAR Government is also developing 10 hectares of land in Sandy Ridge in the Northern Metropolis as a data park to pool together representative data enterprises from home and abroad. Leveraging the city's unique role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder", the HKSAR Government is striving to enhance the resilience of global supply chains through a digital economy, thereby making a greater contribution to advancing the Chinese path to modernisation while supporting the establishment of global institutional and system innovation.
Separately, Mr Wong delivered a keynote address today in the Cybersecurity Forum for Technology Development and International Cooperation, sharing the strategies of the HKSAR Government in promoting the development of artificial intelligence (AI). He stated that the HKSAR Government is implementing various measures including enriching data resources, promoting data openness, and establishing digital infrastructure to support the comprehensive development of AI, strengthening AI governance, and promoting applications on digital government. The Government continues to strive to safeguard Hong Kong's unique advantages of the free flow of data, openness, and a high degree of internationalisation, while simultaneously building a secure and stable Internet environment to serve as an important window for the country to the world by aligning with national development.
Mr Wong also participated in the Data Governance Forum, where he shared Hong Kong's efforts in promoting cross-boundary data flows, as well as the opportunities brought about by the cross-boundary data flow. He pointed out that the Standard Contract for the Cross-boundary Flow of Personal Information Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Mainland, Hong Kong) represents a policy breakthrough and is the first facilitation measure to foster the cross-boundary flow of personal information within the GBA in a safe and orderly manner. This initiative promotes more cross-boundary services that benefit the public and businesses, thereby helping Hong Kong better integrate into the digital economic development of the GBA. He expressed gratitude to the Cyberspace Administration of China for its support of Hong Kong so that industries of all sectors in the GBA can take part in the cross-boundary data flow in a safe and orderly manner.
Ms Cheong and Mr Wong also visited three local technology enterprises in Hangzhou. They engaged in exchanges with the enterprises' representatives on such areas as security measures for digital government development and major international events, smart factories, and development of large AI models and applications.
They concluded their visit today and returned to Hong Kong in the evening.
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