Ombudsman Jack Chan Concludes Productive Visit to Morocco, Strengthening International Cooperation and Ties.

Ombudsman's proactive participation in international ombudsman meetings yields fruitful results and showcases Hong Kong's close connections to the world

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:

The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, and his delegation concluded the visit to Morocco on May 16. While attending the Board Meeting of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), Mr Chan presided at the second meeting of the IOI's Standing By-laws Committee as the Chairman. The Committee comprises members from other countries and regions including Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Austria and Malta. During that meeting, Mr Chan engaged in meaningful exchanges and an in-depth discussion with other attending members, successfully reaching a mutual agreement. In the subsequent Board Meeting of IOI, Mr Chan presented the discussion result and work progress, which were acknowledged by all Board Members.

Besides, Mr Chan attended IOI's United Nations and International Cooperation Working Group as a member, deliberating on relevant issues with other members from over ten countries and regions as well as optimising effective promotion of international ombudsman affairs.

During the Board Meeting, Mr Chan exchanged views and ideas with ombudsmen and organisation representatives of around 20 countries and regions, strengthening the ties with these counterparts while fostering co-operation at an international level. His proactive participation also demonstrated Hong Kong's important position of having strong support from the motherland and close connections to the world. Mr Chan invited major IOI Members and international counterparts including the IOI President and Ombudsman of Mexico City, Ms Nashieli Ramírez Hernández; the IOI Secretary General and Austrian Ombudsman, Mr Bernhard Achitz; the Mediator of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr Hassan Tariq; and the Chief Ombudsman of Thailand, Mr Somsak Suwansujarit, to visit Hong Kong for exchanges and discussions on signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, with an aim to explore opportunities for international cooperation. The invitations also serve to showcase Hong Kong's distinctive advantage of having close connectivity with the Mainland and the world under the "one country, two systems" and its advancement from stability to prosperity.

Ombudsman's proactive participation in international ombudsman meetings yields fruitful results and showcases Hong Kong's close connections to the world Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ombudsman's proactive participation in international ombudsman meetings yields fruitful results and showcases Hong Kong's close connections to the world Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ombudsman's proactive participation in international ombudsman meetings yields fruitful results and showcases Hong Kong's close connections to the world Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ombudsman's proactive participation in international ombudsman meetings yields fruitful results and showcases Hong Kong's close connections to the world Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ombudsman's proactive participation in international ombudsman meetings yields fruitful results and showcases Hong Kong's close connections to the world Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by SITI at 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit today (January 16):

Professor Sun Dong, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms Qiu (Vice President of DLG Exhibitions & Events Co Ltd, Ms Qiu Haoming), Hendrick (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, Mr Hendrick Sin), Terry (Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Terry Wong), Duncan (Member of the Legislative Council, Mr Duncan Chiu), Alex (President of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, Dr Alex Chung), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. I am delighted to join you at the 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit.Today's theme, "Wake Up More!", is a call not only for any single company, city, or country but also a timely reminder for all of us to embrace a new era of intelligence, possibility, and shared responsibility.

A big thank you to the organiser for choosing Hong Kong as a destination for this remarkable Summit. This is another testament to Hong Kong's unique position as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" that thrives on global connection and creativity. We are delighted to see that world-class academics, industry experts and leading entrepreneurs from around the world gather here today to explore the future of AI and the opportunities it brings to us.

AI has become a core engine driving global technological and economic progress, and all economies recognise its strategic importance.Under the unique advantages of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is also seizing this AI moment.With a focus on "strengthening infrastructure and promoting the application-oriented approach", Hong Kong is steadily advancing a series of AI initiatives.

In terms of R&D (research and development), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government is working to establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute within this year, which is a new engine for discovery, translation, and real-world impact.Through our AIR@InnoHK research cluster, we have funded the establishment of 16 R&D laboratories focusing on AI and robotics technologies.Notably, the "HKChat" AI chatbot developed by the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center has already launched its public version.

Hong Kong's total computing power has now reached 5 000 PFLOPS, with the Cyberport AI Supercomputing Centre contributing 3 000 PFLOPS. This centre is a critical hub that supports Hong Kong's AI development, and its capacity will continue to expand to meet growing demand. The upcoming data facility cluster at Sandy Ridge in North District will further provide advanced computing power facilities, promoting the development of data and AI-related industries in Hong Kong.

And at the heart of all progress is talent. We recognise that people, not algorithms, will shape the future of AI. Our strategy is simple yet powerful: "Promote technology with talent, lead industries with technology, and attract talent with industries". To this end, we have included in the Talent List a number of professions in the I&T (innovation and technology) segment, including experienced AI Specialists, to facilitate global experts, like all of you here, in developing your careers in Hong Kong.

Looking ahead, the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to foster strong collaboration among the Government and the industry, academia, research and investment sectors. The future of AI cannot be built by anyone or any place alone. It requires a global community that is awake, aware, and aligned.I am confident that this Summit will spark new ideas and inspire us to wake up more for high-quality AI development.

I wish the Summit great success. Thank you.

The 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit, Photo by Bastille Post