Sun Dong: Hong Kong is rapidly building itself into an international innovation and technology center, driving the development of artificial intelligence in all aspects.

On July 17th, at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference - AI Driven Economy Frontiers and Global Collaboration Forum, Hong Kong Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Eric Sun, delivered a speech, stating that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is actively building Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology center, promoting the development of artificial intelligence in all aspects including policy governance and funding input. They are constructing a comprehensive, reliable, international, and sustainable AI ecosystem, actively integrating into the national "AI+" action plan. The Hong Kong SAR Government has elevated AI as a key industry in Hong Kong, establishing the development policy of "AI industrialization, industrial AI-ization". Leveraging the strong research capabilities of Hong Kong universities, Hong Kong is currently building a globally competitive innovation and technology system with the backbone of "three major innovation and technology parks, five major research and development institutions". The three major parks, namely Science Park, Cyberport, and Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, have already brought together over a thousand AI-related enterprises and startups, forming a thriving AI cluster. The newly-established Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence R&D Institute is about to start operations, coordinating the advancement of cutting-edge technologies, transformation of achievements, governance recommendations, and exploration of application scenarios. Under the InnoHK research platform, there are currently 16 laboratories focused on AI and robotics, gathering nearly 1,200 international top research talents to drive research breakthroughs and global innovation and technology cooperation. He pointed out that computing power is a core element in AI development. Currently, Hong Kong's overall computing power has reached 5,000 PFLOPS per second, and the Sandpit Data Centre, currently under construction, will provide 180,000 PFLOPS of computing power after completion, equivalent to 36 times of Hong Kong's current computing power. The Sandpit Data Centre, River Loop Hong Kong Park, and Nantian Science and Technology City will together form an important part of Hong Kong's new development pattern of "Northern Innovation and Technology", bringing more space and opportunities for AI research, industrialization, and cross-border cooperation. These parks will complement efficiently with industrial chains and computing power clusters in different provinces and cities in mainland China, promoting Hong Kong to become a regional advanced data and computing power hub and contribute to the construction of Digital China. Furthermore, Hong Kong has established the "AI+ and Industry Development Strategy Committee" to formulate strategies to drive industrial transformation with AI, focusing initially on life and health and smart manufacturing. The Innovation and Technology Industry Guidance Fund will be launched within this year to lead market capital investment in emerging and future industries including artificial intelligence, digitization, and upgrading transformation. The government will continue to promote secure and orderly cross-border data flow and establish a governance framework for artificial intelligence in a practical and prudent manner, balancing innovation, application, and responsibility to ensure its development is safe and reliable. Sun emphasized that the future development of artificial intelligence must be based on open cooperation and mutual trust and win-win cooperation. Under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems", Hong Kong has always actively played the role of a "super-connector" and a "super value-added" player, serving not only as a bridge connecting the country with the world but also as an important platform for the country to deepen high-level opening-up. Artificial intelligence is driving the global economy towards new frontiers, bringing unprecedented opportunities for cross-border cooperation, industrial upgrading, and governance innovation. Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique advantages under "One Country, Two Systems", deepen cooperation in politics, production, academia, research, and investment, strengthen cooperation with different provinces and cities in mainland China, empower Hong Kong's development with artificial intelligence, and contribute to driving innovation in artificial intelligence for the country and the world.