📋 Tender Overview
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Lo Waikwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation Technology and Industry Professor Sun Dong in the Legislative Council today March 19
Question
There are views that the development of artificial intelligence AI is everevolving and has become an important driving force for developing new quality productive forces and promoting technological revolution and industrial transformation It has been reported that some AI enterprises on the Mainland have recently developed large language model with higher efficiency and lower cost demonstrating the enormous potential of AI innovation Moreover the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint published by the Innovation Technology and Industry Bureau in 2022 proposes to focus on the development of AI and data science industries In this connection will the Government inform this Council
1 whether it will expeditiously formulate a comprehensive AI development blueprint and strategy and provide comprehensive supporting policy measures in respect of the cooperation among the Government and the industry academia research and investment sectors including the formulation of relevant legal and regulatory frameworks land supply dedicated funding tax concessions training and admission of talents technological research and development RD market development and regional cooperation so as to capitalise on Hong Kongs edge to promote AIs RD and application with enhanced speed and efficiency if so of the details if not the reasons for that
2 whether it will allocate additional resources to expedite the admission and training of AI talents and support the application of AI in the industries and public services as well as encourage people engaging in different industries to learn to make use of AI to comprehensively upgrade their skills through subsidy schemes such as the Continuing Education Fund with a view to promoting the empowerment of industries and business with AI if so of the details if not the reasons for that and
3 whether it will further strengthen the coordination with the Mainland cities in the GuangdongHong KongMacao Greater Bay Area in respect of promoting AI development particularly when the Mainland has successively introduced policy initiatives such as the Implementation Opinions of the Peoples Government of Guangdong Province on expediting the creation of a hub for innovation in general AI in the province and Measures of the Shenzhen Municipality for building an AI pioneer city whether Hong Kong will explore with the Mainland ways to strengthen the relevant cooperation and positive interaction if so of the details if not the reasons for that
Reply
President
In respect of the question raised by Dr the Hon Lo Waikwok having consolidated the information provided by the Education Bureau and the Labour and Welfare Bureau my reply is as follows
1 Artificial Intelligence AI is at the core of developing new quality productive forces It is a key industry that Hong Kong is committed to developing and it lends support to the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries The Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint the Blueprint published by the Innovation Technology and Industry Bureau ITIB at the end of 2022 has proposed to focus on the development of AI industry setting out clear strategic directions and detailed action plan for promoting the development of AI in Hong Kong On this basis the Government has been implementing a series of initiatives to support the development of AI in recent years thereby realising the AI development strategy Key initiatives include
i Continuously nurture local talents and gather topnotch researchers from all around the world as well as foster global research collaboration through the AIRInnoHK research cluster and its research and development laboratories focusing on AI and robotic technologies including the Hong Kong Generative Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Center HKGAI set up in 2023 with the support of the AIRInnoHK platform
ii Cyberport set up the Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Centre AISC to enhance the local supply of highperformance computing power
iii Put in place a 3 billion AI Subsidy Scheme to subsidise local universities research institutes and enterprises etc in leveraging the computing power of AISC to achieve scientific breakthrough
iv Continue to promote data centre development including commencement of the rezoning procedures to convert the Sandy Ridge innovation technology IT site in the North District for data centre and related development so as to support the development of digital industry including AI and
v Prepare to set up a 10 billion IT IndustryOriented Fund and include AI and robotics as one of its thematic areas of emerging and future industries of strategic importance with a view to channelling more market capital to promote the development of AI and robotics industries
In addition to further promote the research and development RD and applications of AI in Hong Kong the 202526 Budget announced that 1 billion has been earmarked for the establishment of the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute to spearhead and support Hong Kongs innovative RD and industrial application of AI as well as to facilitate upstream RD midstream and downstream transformation of RD outcomes and application scenarios
2 The Government has introduced a series of measures to step up efforts in nurturing local talents and attracting those from the Mainland and overseas as well as to promote AI applications including that for public services
In terms of training local talents apart from encouraging the University Grants Committee UGCfunded universities to offer programmes which cater for Hong Kongs development needs and expand the talent pool of important areas such as IT the Government also subsidises students to pursue designated se
