Sun Dong: Continue planning to build power facilities and increase the use of zero-carbon energy for electricity generation.

Professor Duncan Sun, Director of the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Bureau, stated in response to questions from legislators that the Hong Kong government is actively promoting high-quality development by strengthening regional cooperation and increasing the use of zero-carbon energy for electricity generation. With the enhancement of the clean energy transmission system by 2026, Hong Kong will gradually import more zero-carbon energy from the mainland. The government is also continuously planning to build electricity facilities to receive and process zero-carbon energy transmitted from other regions to Hong Kong, gradually reducing reliance on fossil fuel power generation to achieve the long-term goal of "net zero emissions" as set out in the Hong Kong Climate Action Blueprint 2050. As the price of zero-carbon energy is more stable than fossil fuels, increasing its use not only helps stabilize electricity prices but also promotes the sustainable development of industries with high electricity demands, such as the innovation and technology sector. Optimization algorithms and other technologies can improve computational efficiency and reduce resource consumption to a certain extent. In fact, enhancing computational efficiency through AI model optimization and resource scheduling is a global trend in AI development. The Hong Kong government has been actively developing the local AI ecosystem by encouraging collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions to promote the research and application of cutting-edge AI technologies, including efficient algorithms, through partnerships with mainland and overseas entities. Initiatives such as the InnoHK research platform and the upcoming Hong Kong AI research institute aim to accelerate the commercialization of research results and promote the application of relevant technologies in various scenarios by leveraging the synergies of Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In April of this year, the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Bureau signed a memorandum of cooperation on the development of innovative technologies with the National Internet Information Office, covering areas such as promoting cross-border AI and data collaboration. The goal is to support Hong Kong's role as an international hub for innovation and technology, in line with the national "15th Five-Year Plan" and the "AI+" initiative, to better integrate and serve the national development agenda. The tender results for the Sha Ling Data Park project in Hong Kong were announced in early March, set to develop into an advanced data center and related industrial park. As a key project for the development of innovation and technology in the northern metropolitan area of Hong Kong, the total gross floor area of the Sha Ling Data Park is expected to reach 250,000 square meters, with nearly 90% dedicated to high-end data centers. The project has entered the construction phase and is expected to commence operations in 2029, with an initial investment of HK$23.8 billion over the first three years, creating approximately HK$4.6 billion in economic output and around 180 technical job positions. By 2032, it will provide computing power equivalent to 36 times that of the current capacity in Hong Kong. The Sha Ling Data Park will provide vital support for the development of AI in Hong Kong by offering key elements such as data and computing power, attracting resources such as technology and talent to gather data from both domestic and foreign sources and develop related industries. This will deepen Hong Kong's leading advantages in digital infrastructure and cross-border data flow within the Greater Bay Area, driving the development of digital economy and smart cities, and making a positive contribution to the high-quality development of the country and the "AI+" initiative. The allocation of computing power at the data park will be planned by the operator according to its business and market needs. Professor Duncan Sun emphasized that data is a key driver of AI, innovation, and high-quality development. Promoting data flow within the Greater Bay Area is a significant step towards establishing Hong Kong as an international hub for innovation and technology. In addition to the aforementioned AI initiatives, the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Bureau, in collaboration with the National Internet Information Office, released the "Greater Bay Area (Mainland China, Hong Kong) Personal Data Cross-border Flow Standard Contract" in December 2023 to facilitate the flow of personal information from mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area to Hong Kong and simplify related arrangements. Currently, all sectors in Hong Kong can participate in and voluntarily adopt the "Greater Bay Area Standard Contract" to facilitate the cross-border flow of personal information, promoting more convenient cross-border services and accelerating data flow within the Greater Bay Area. The Hong Kong government has been actively promoting the development and application of information and communication technologies (including AI) through the Guangdong-Hong Kong Information Technology Cooperation Task Group and the Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Smart City Cluster Task Group, facilitating the exchange of data and exploration of smart connectivity in various industries to support the development of the international hub for innovation and technology in the Greater Bay Area.