Hong Kong outlines seven-pronged AI strategy at Greater Bay Area forum
Hong Kong's innovation chief detailed a seven-point plan to develop artificial intelligence as a core industry, including boosting research, expanding computing power, and promoting AI literacy. The strategy aligns with the city's first five-year development plan and 2026 policy address.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry outlined a seven-point strategy to develop artificial intelligence as a core industry, speaking at the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Summit Forum organised by Hong Kong Economic Journal on 20 October.
The secretary said AI is accelerating a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, reshaping global development. He noted the nation is advancing its "AI Plus" initiative, while Hong Kong has made AI a core industry, pursuing a strategy that balances development and governance, and institutions and industry, to promote "AI industrialisation and industrial AI".
On research, he said three local universities rank among the top 30 globally in data science and AI. The InnoHK platform hosts AI and robotics research, and two other platforms apply AI to life sciences, sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing and materials. A new AI research institute will coordinate projects and match industry needs, acting as a "leader" in Hong Kong's AI development.
Hong Kong currently has more than 5,000 PFLOPS of computing power, with the Cyberport AI supercomputing centre contributing 3,000 PFLOPS at over 90 per cent utilisation. The Sha Ling data park in the Northern Metropolis, under construction, is expected to provide up to 180,000 PFLOPS by 2032, about 36 times current capacity. The government will optimise data centre operations and city-level computing layout to make Hong Kong a regional data and computing hub.
The secretary said the city's three science parks in the north, central and south have attracted over 1,000 AI-related companies and startups. An enhanced Innovation and Technology Venture Fund and a HK$10 billion Industry-oriented Innovation and Technology Fund, launching this year, will guide market investment in strategic emerging industries including AI. Support measures such as the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme and training for SMEs and workers aim to boost AI adoption.
On governance, the government will work on seven areas including combating AI-enabled crime, protecting minors, establishing ethical frameworks, promoting safe applications, clarifying liability for AI-caused accidents, issuing safety guidelines for AI agents, and studying broader societal impacts. The Digital Policy Office will appoint an AI commissioner.
To raise public AI literacy, the "AI for All" programme offers over 200 training courses, and a "robots into communities" pilot will raise awareness of embodied intelligence. An "AI Effectiveness Enhancement Group" has implemented 30 projects, including using AI at the 1823 hotline to identify repeat cases for proactive handling. The government is also studying an "AI City Brain" for urban management.
Hong Kong will promote international AI cooperation, building on events like InnoEX and the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit. The first five-year plan aims for Hong Kong to become an international innovation and technology centre serving the Greater Bay Area, the nation and the world by 2030, the secretary said, urging society to seize AI opportunities.
