The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR-RRB- governmeSun Dongdong, said on a radio programme today Marcharch) that the development of artificial intelligenAI (ai) is the major trend of global development and the main battleground of various countries, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has attached great importance to the development of artificial intelligence in the past two years. Last year, the“Hong Kong version of CHATGPT” was developed by INNOHK Innovation Hong Kong R & D platform, and named“Civil Service Clerical Assistance System”, the aim is to extend it to all government departments within this year and eventually to all Hong Kong.
Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Sun Dong. Photo: Hong Kong Dot News (file photo)
Suen said that the civil service clerical assistance system had been piloted by the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Bureau since last month and the adaptation process was progressing smoothly. The system is expected to be extended to other bureaux soon. He has previously pointed out that the system is modelled on OpenAI’s ChatGPT and is intended to reduce the workload and improve efficiency of civil servants, emphasising that the database is self-built with Hong Kong and mainland characteristics.
Information
According to reports, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is preparing to set up an Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Centre at Cyberport, which could be opened as soon as the second half of this year. When asked whether the fee level would be higher than that of neighbouring regions, Sun Dong responded that the centre would make reference to the fee levels of other regions. Although it might be higher than that of the mainland, it would not be much higher, the remaining costs and expenses will be subsidised by the HKSAR government, with a view to establishing an artificial intelligence ecosystem in Hong Kong as soon as possible.
On the question of whether Hong Kong will enact a“Data law” and whether there is a legislative timetable, Sun Dong responded that the preliminary preparation for the“Data Law” has already begun, but the development of“Data Law” involved in the process will be a long and complex, the relevant departments are making reference to the relevant laws and regulations in the surrounding areas, when the time is ripe“Data Law” will come out.
Sun said more than 2.8 m people, about 40 per cent of Hong Kong’s 11-year-old population, had registered to use the government’s“Smart Convenience” mobile app. As of last year, it had been used 30m times, exceeding the target. Since July 11, the HKSAR Government has launched a new version of the“Smart and convenient” mobile application, which has greatly simplified the registration process for users. We believe that the number of users will increase significantly in the future.
Photo: “Hong Kong 01”(file photo)
In June this year, Sun Dong told the direct news during an interview on the theme of“Opportunity Hong Kong” that last year, the SAR government’s R & D expenditure as a percentage of GDP exceeded 1% for the first time, there will be further steady increases. He said the HKSAR Government needed to invest in basic scientific research, including fundamental science research in universities. However, with reference to the experience of neighbouring cities such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou, most of the investment in scientific research came from the industry, and Hong Kong needed to follow this path. He said Hong Kong needs to build a complete and thriving innovation and technology ecosystem, maintain constant investment in basic scientific research upstream, and achieve economic restructuring through rapid development in the middle and lower reaches.
In addition, direct news reporters observed at“Opportunity Hong Kong” that in terms of actively integrating into the overall development of the country, Sun Dong highlighted the Hong Kong-shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park located in the Lok Ma Chau Loop. Sun said the detailed plans for the Hong kong-shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park will be announced at the end of this year, and the first three buildings will be completed in phases by the end of this year. He said Hong Kong would maintain close contact with the authorities in Shenzhen and the central government to discuss the development direction of the loop.
Hong kong-shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, rendering
It noted that in recent years, the HKSAR Government has attached great importance to innovation and technology as the core driving force for high-quality economic and social development. In its 2024-2025 budget, the HKSAR Government announced that it would spend HK $24 billion to strengthen the innovation and technology sector, with a view to promoting the development of the technology economy and building Hong Kong into a global technology hub.
Paul Chan, the Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, has outlined a number of innovation and technology initiatives in his budget, including the launch of a HK $10bn acceleration programme for new industrialisation. The programme aims to support companies in fields such as life and health technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and data science, advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies, matching financial support of up to HK $200 million for each eligible enterprise. Under the plan, the government hopes to attract 50 to 100 companies to invest at least HK $20 billion in Hong Kong over the next five years.
In addition, with Cyberport’s AI supercomputing centre expected to start operating in Hong Kong this year, the HKSAR Government will launch a three-year AI subsidy scheme totalling HK $3 billion, to support local universities, research institutes and enterprises in Hong Kong to make use of the centre’s computing power to achieve scientific breakthroughs.
Eric Chan criticised the US and the west for treating Hong Kong with a double standard
Eric Chan, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government, attended the UN Human Rights Council earlier this month in his capacity as deputy head of the Chinese delegation. He said in a radio program today (13) , in addition to the meeting to respond to human rights issues involving Hong Kong, but also to refute the US and the West’s unfounded allegations.
Eric Chan attended the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review in January. Picture: HKSAR Information Services Department
Eric Chan said he listened to suggestions from other countries on the human rights situation in China, including Hong Kong and Macau, and responded this month. There are more than 400 recommendations, involving 24 in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has accepted 10 of them, most of which are under way, such as human rights and the rule of law. The other 14 items, including repealing the National Security Law of Hong Kong and repealing Article 23 of the Basic Law, are unacceptable. He cited the 2021 Capitol Hill riots in the United States, those involved were sentenced to up to 22 years in prison, said the United States and the west a serious double standard.
He also said at the meeting that he would abide by international treaties and that every case would be heard in court, which is enough to prove that the rule of law in Hong Kong is fair, open and impartial, with independent jurisdiction. The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has no intention of affecting the rule of law. All defendants convicted of violating the national security law of Hong Kong are justified and clearly stated in the relevant provisions, including the reasons for prosecution. He stressed that“Good can not triumph over evil”, and that doing well means doing well, unlike a few countries with political aims, which can talk things from black to white and from white to black.