Hong Kong Hosts International Infrastructure Leaders Summit to Enhance Global Project Collaboration and Innovation

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit

The Development Bureau (DEVB) today (November 15) hosted the International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit, bringing together more than 500 major infrastructure project leaders and experts in infrastructure from over 20 countries and economies around the globe, including senior government officials from Mainland and overseas countries, and representatives of renowned international organisations such as the World Economic Forum and International Institute for Management Development, to delve into the strategies and policies of infrastructure delivery plans, and addressed the challenges and opportunities in implementing mega infrastructure projects under the theme of Strategic Leadership in Managing Complexity and Uncertainty in Infrastructure Delivery.

Addressing the Summit, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said that the Hong Kong Special Adminstrative Region Government is committed to investing in infrastructure and advancing land development projects to promote social and economic development. Despite many challenges, Hong Kong's infrastructure development has remained robust with world-class infrastructure recognised internationally. The Government has taken proactive stances to spearhead the transformation of the construction industry over the past few years, promoting advanced construction methods and materials, integrated digital technologies, as well as adopting new project delivery model. Through exchanges that transcend geographical and sectoral boundaries at the Summit, the Government hopes to pool wisdom on the delivery of projects with enhanced efficiency and quality. She also mentioned that under the unique advantages of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong would continue to capitalise on the privilege of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, and consolidate its position as an international infrastructure centre, uniting the world's best talent, knowledge and investment to address upcoming challenges and promote quality infrastructure development.

Speaking at the Summit, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China, Mr Li Liangsheng, said that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China stressed the need to establish a system for the planning and standardisation of new infrastructure facilities, optimise the mechanism for the integration and utilisation of new infrastructure facilities, promote the digital transformation of conventional infrastructure, expand the diversity of investment and financing channels, and enhance the co-ordination mechanism for major infrastructure development. The Summit will inject impetus generated in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into the national development of new quality productive forces. It will further promote international infrastructural co-operation and bring far-reaching significance.

In his keynote presentation, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau, said that the Government is taking forward the Northern Metropolis, the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands project as well as a number of major transport infrastructure projects. He stressed the Government's commitment to be an "enabler" fostering innovation and industrialisation to drive industry enhancement, and added that Hong Kong's diverse talent pool is also one of its most significant advantages, allowing the city to play a leading role in the construction industry.

The presentation and plenary sessions of the Summit gathered prominent infrastructure leaders and experts from various sectors worldwide, including government, academia, construction and finance, to share the latest initiatives and challenges facing infrastructure development. The first plenary session "The Next Growth Curve" highlighted the critical role of infrastructure in driving the city development and the next wave of global economic growth. The second session "Powerful Partnerships" explored effective financing and procurement strategies essential for advancing infrastructure projects within a culture of collaboration. The last session "Building Tomorrow" focused on how innovation and digital technologies are reshaping infrastructure development, promoting greater efficiency and sustainability.

At the Summit, the Building Technology Research Institute (BTRi) which was established by the DEVB in August this year to drive innovative applications in the construction industry, signed memoranda of understanding (MoU) with Mainland and overseas organisations, namely Guangdong Provincial Academy of Building Research and the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore, as well as three local universities, namely the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. These MoU would expand the collaboration network of the BTRi for the promotion of innovative application in the construction industry. The major development directions of the BTRi are to promote applied research and development (R&D), review and uplift standards ,as well as to provide accreditation, certification and testing.

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by DSJ at LawTech Conference "The AI Era: Shaping the Legal Landscape in the 21st Century" under Hong Kong Legal Week 2025

Following are the opening remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the LawTech Conference "The AI Era: Shaping the Legal Landscape in the 21st Century" under Hong Kong Legal Week 2025 today (December 5):

The Honourable Mr Justice Lok (Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, Mr David Lok), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. Welcome to the Main Stage LawTech Conference today. It is appreciated that so many of you have chosen to join us today despite the difficult circumstances in our community, and stand ready to engage thoughtfully with the challenges and opportunities that lawtech and artificial intelligence bring to the legal profession.

The inaugural Hong Kong LawTech Fest 2025 helps to bring together legal practitioners, technology providers, experts, academics, and policymakers to explore the fast-evolving intersection of law and AI, and to showcase the latest innovative products and services shaping legal practices. The LawTech Fest features a dynamic blend of exhibition, live demonstrations and consultations, and expert dialogues. As Hong Kong embraces the transformative AI era, with lawtech and AI reshaping the delivery of legal services, we hope that the LawTech Fest would provide a platform for attendees to discover cutting-edge solutions, stay ahead of trends, expand professional network, and gain actionable insights to advance innovation in their own legal practice.

The theme of today's conference, "The AI Era: Shaping the Legal Landscape in the 21st Century", sits at the heart of an important dialogue about the future of our legal system. Lawtech and AI are transforming legal practice, enhancing efficiency, accessibility, and quality in delivering legal services. By automating routine tasks such as legal research, document drafting and review, these technologies allow legal professionals to focus on high-value activities, such as strategic decision-making and client relationship management. Moreover, lawtech and AI solutions enable more effective data management and analysis, facilitate informed decision-making, and provide predictive insights. This technological integration also improves access to legal resources, enabling individuals and businesses to obtain quality legal support more easily and affordably. As we navigate through the increasingly complex legal and regulatory landscape, it is vital that we address these frequently asked questions: How can we integrate AI professionally and responsibly into our legal practice? What are the risks and ethical implications that we must consider? And most importantly, how can we ensure that technology can act as a complement to human touch, which remains pivotal in the practice of law? Today's conference examines in a timely manner the opportunities and risks associated with AI's growing role in legal practice.

The DoJ (Department of Justice) is steadfast in its commitment to foster innovation and the integration of technology in the legal industry. To promote the development of lawtech, we established the Consultation Group on Lawtech Development in January this year, and invited the industry and various stakeholders to jointly study and formulate policy measures related to lawtech.

This year, we launched the LexGoTech Roundtable Series and successfully organised three roundtables. Through the roundtables, we have gathered solicitors, barristers, arbitrators, legal educators, in-house counsel and government lawyers - a diverse group of professionals who are the vital pillars of Hong Kong's legal services delivery - to exchange views and experiences on the opportunities and challenges that lawtech and AI present to the legal profession in Hong Kong. Today, I would like to announce the release of the LexGoTech Roundtables Report. The Report summarises the insights gained from the Roundtable Series. More details will be discussed in the 2025 final round of the Roundtable Series taking place here on this stage later this afternoon.

Additionally, the DoJ launched the Survey for LawTech Service Providers in Hong Kong in October. We are now analysing the valuable feedback, which we believe would significantly shape the future steps in our lawtech/AI development strategies.

Going back to today's programme, we are very honoured to have the Honourable Mr Justice Lok to deliver a keynote speech on lawtech and the future of law and justice. Following that, we will have an interactive "LawTech Guess Who" game, during which we will explore the advantages of using AI in legal practice, while highlighting the importance of human input and oversight. Next, we will have the LexGoTech Roundtable Series - 2025 Final Round, during which we will share key findings gathered from our earlier roundtables. On the basis of these findings, seasoned practitioners will exchange insights on the opportunities and challenges we face as we integrate technology into legal practice. I look forward to hearing our distinguished speakers' insightful sharing.

Ladies and gentlemen, as we navigate through the AI era, we should bear in mind that our ultimate goal is not just to adopt technology for the sake of progress, but to harness its power in ways that uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and integrity. Technology is a powerful tool, but it cannot replace human qualities such as empathy, judgment and integrity, which remain essential in legal practice. Only with an open and responsible mindset will we be able to grasp the opportunities brought by lawtech and AI and transform the challenges into benefits. On this note, I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to all speakers, participants, Consultation Group members and colleagues who have worked tirelessly to make this meaningful event and the DoJ's lawtech initiatives possible. I wish you all a fruitful and inspiring discussion today. Thank you.

Speech by DSJ at LawTech Conference "The AI Era: Shaping the Legal Landscape in the 21st Century" under Hong Kong Legal Week 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases