Hong Kong Delegation Shines at APICTA Awards 2024, Winning Eight Top Honors in ICT Innovation

2024-12-08 23:58 Last Updated At：12-09 14:58

HKSAR delegation wins record-breaking eight Winners Awards at APICTA Awards 2024

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation achieved remarkable results at the Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2024, held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei from December 4 to 7. The HKSAR delegation once again ranked first among the 15 participating economies, bagging a total of eight Winner Awards, four First Runner-up Awards, three Second Runner-up Awards and three Merit Awards.

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HKSAR delegation wins record-breaking eight Winners Awards at APICTA Awards 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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HKSAR delegation wins record-breaking eight Winners Awards at APICTA Awards 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

This annual awards programme serves as a platform for information and communications technology (ICT) talents from the 15 participating economies across the Asia-Pacific region to exchange innovative ideas and forge partnership. Led by the Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, the HKSAR delegation comprising 25 teams showcased their innovative products and applications in the event this year.

The following projects from the HKSAR shone at the competition and won awards among over 260 entries:

Winner Awards

Public transport ridership simulation - MTR to Keep Cities Moving - The Unprecedented Strategy and Intelligence in Railway Planning by MTR Corporation Limited / the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Business Data Analytics category)

Try.Eat! - Influencer Matching Platform by InnoLab Limited (Consumer category - Digital Marketing / Advertising)

CityGeni - Smart City App Specializing in Barrier-Free Navigation by Maphive Technology Limited (Consumer category - Tourism & Hospitality)

AI-Driven Sorting System by Green AI Technology Limited (Inclusions & Community Services category - Sustainability and Environment)

HKeToll by Transport Department, the Government of the HKSAR / Autotoll Limited / Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited (Public Sector and Government category - Government & Citizen Services)

A-EYE AI visual impaired shopping assistant by ELCHK Lutheran Secondary School (Senior Student category: Application)

From Romanised Nepali to Pure Nepali: AI Transliteration Using Transformer Architecure for Low-Resourced Languages by Hong Kong Baptist University (Tertiary Student category: Application)

SAFERIN by Hong Kong Institute of Information Technology at IVE (Tuen Mun) (Tertiary Student category: Solution)

First Runner-up Awards

"ChillStream®"AI chiller optimizer by Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Government of the HKSAR (Artificial Intelligence category)

Housing Authority Project Information Management and Analytics Platform by Hong Kong Housing Authority / Geosys Hong Kong Limited (Business Data Analytics category)

PhysioPlay gamified physical training & monitoring system by Medmind Technology Limited (Inclusions & Community Services category - Health & Wellbeing)

Housing Authority Project Information Management and Analytics Platform by Hong Kong Housing Authority / Geosys Hong Kong Limited (Public Sector and Government category – Digital Government)

Second Runner-up Awards

Medisafe by St. Paul's Co-educational College (Junior Student category)

Ball Type Rolling Robot for inspection and rescue by Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Government of the HKSAR (Public Sector and Government category - Government & Citizen Services)

Merit Awards

Occupational safety guard by Pui Ching Middle School (Junior Student category)

UMeta - Educational Metaverse by Diocesan Girls' School (Senior Student category: Application)

Green Recycling by Good Hope School (Senior Student category: Solution)

Mr Wong congratulated all winning teams. He said, "The outstanding performance of the HKSAR delegation highlights Hong Kong's innovative ideas and cutting-edge technology in the ICT field, enhancing Hong Kong's leadership position as an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. We will continue our efforts in fostering a more flourishing and vibrant I&T ecosystem, further promoting the I&T development in Hong Kong."

During the competition, the "Hong Kong Night" was also held in Bandar Seri Begawan on December 6. Mr Wong extended his sincere gratitude to Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Brunei, Mr Shi Rongke, for attending the event and cheering for the delegation from the Mainland and the HKSAR. Mr Wong also thanked the organisers – the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Computer Society, for providing this valuable opportunity that enabled the HKSAR delegation to share and exchange their innovative ideas and technology solutions with representatives from other participating economies.

The Digital Policy Office also sponsored 24 non-governmental organisations representatives and students to participate in the event this year to compete and interact with leading ICT talents from the Asia Pacific region, with a view to helping them extend their reach and move beyond local boundary.

The annual APICTA Awards is hosted in rotation by member economies, with the goal of identifying and recognising ICT innovations, promoting the development of ICT talents, products and solutions, as well as technology and knowledge sharing among the member economies. This prestigious annual event also provides valuable business matching and pitching opportunities, facilitates the in-depth collaboration between business and research and development, as well as promotes the joint development of the industry as a whole. Through the concerted support of the member economies, the APICTA Awards is highly regarded by the ICT industry in the Asia-Pacific region.

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Hong Kong Delegation Shines at APICTA Awards 2024, Winning Eight Top Honors in ICT Innovation

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