Hong Kong finance chief urges focus on AI benefits for people, not just machines
Financial Secretary Paul Chan called for global cooperation on climate finance, tech sharing and AI talent. He said Hong Kong can act as a "super-connector" and "super-enricher" to channel innovation into improving lives, warning against protectionism in clean energy.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has called for global cooperation to address three major challenges: financing the sustainable transition, sharing technological achievements and training talent. Speaking at a global earth summit, he said Hong Kong can play the role of a "super-connector" and "super-enricher" to help finance innovation and ensure it improves people's lives.
Chan warned that conflicts in the Middle East highlight the world's continued reliance on fossil fuels. Clean energy, he argued, is about both climate and economic security. He urged nations to boost the accessibility and affordability of clean technologies rather than erect trade barriers under the pretext of so-called "overcapacity". Emerging and developing economies in Asia require at least US$1.1 trillion in climate investment each year, he noted, saying private capital must be mobilised.
Hong Kong, Chan said, will contribute in three areas: finance, innovation application and talent. On finance, the city will not only attract capital and businesses but also help worthwhile projects secure funding and allow promising technologies to enter new markets, bringing real benefits to communities.
On innovation, Hong Kong—as an international city—can provide a platform for testing and demonstrating innovative solutions such as artificial intelligence and robotics. That will verify their practical use and speed up their adoption and commercialisation in global markets.
On talent, Chan stressed that Hong Kong views AI not just as a tool to boost efficiency but as a means to expand individual capabilities. By connecting professional knowledge, sharing experience and promoting mutual learning, more people can be prepared for change, he said.
Chan said the true measure of progress is whether it brings tangible improvements to people's lives. In the intelligent age, he concluded, achievements should not be judged solely by the capabilities of machines but by the opportunities they create and how they improve lives.
