Speech by SITI at Opening Ceremony of HK Tech 300 Expo
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Opening Ceremony of HK Tech 300 Expo today (May 23):
Chairman Ngai (Chairman of the Council, City University of Hong Kong (CityU), Mr Michael Ngai), President Boey (President and University Distinguished Professor of CityU, Professor Freddy Boey), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today at the opening ceremony of the HK Tech 300 Expo and the launch ceremony of the HK Tech 300 International Start-up Competition.
I would like to first commend City University of Hong Kong and its partners for their instrumental role in supporting young talent and nurturing deep-tech start-ups in our community. Today at the Expo, I am delighted to see approximately 300 innovative start-ups and projects incubated by the HK Tech 300 programme. These initiatives demonstrate their success in translating research and innovative ideas into practical applications. I am particularly encouraged to see the programme expanding its footprint into Mainland China, Southeast Asia, and beyond.
Over the years, the Government has implemented various policies and made significant investments to nurture and enhance support for start-ups. For example, the $10 billion Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme was launched in 2023 to fund, on a matching basis, research teams from universities with good potential to become successful start-ups to transform and commercialise their R&D (research and development) outcomes. I am pleased to see that several awarded CityU projects have already shown promising development and I look forward to seeing their research results in successful market applications.
To attract more venture capital to co-invest in local I&T (innovation and technology) start-ups, we launched the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund enhanced scheme recently by redeploying up to $1.5 billion to set up funds jointly with the market, also on a matching basis, to invest in start-ups of strategic industries, thereby empowering start-ups with more financing support. We are also preparing for the launch of the Pilot I&T Accelerator Scheme to attract professional start-up service providers with proven track records in and beyond Hong Kong to set up accelerator bases in Hong Kong to foster the robust growth of start-ups and enhance the I&T ecosystem.
As I always emphasise, interactive collaboration between the Government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors is essential for Hong Kong's I&T development. CityU and the HK Tech 300 programme play a crucial role in this, creating a vibrant ecosystem that fosters cross-disciplinary, cross-sector and cross-industry collaboration. We must continue our efforts to work together to support our young entrepreneurs, providing them with the necessary resources, mentorship and opportunities they need to turn their ideas into impactful solutions, further bolstering the development of Hong Kong as an international I&T hub.
The start-up journey is undoubtedly challenging, but with the right direction and enthusiasm, even a small idea can have a significant impact and benefit society. I encourage all of you to stay creative and innovative, and I look forward to witnessing our start-ups to grow into gazelles, unicorns or even industry giants in the near future.
In closing, may I wish you a fruitful and inspiring experience over the next two days at the HK Tech 300 Expo. Thank you very much.
Speech by SITI at Opening Ceremony of HK Tech 300 Expo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by SITI at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Workshop on New Concepts and Approaches of AI Literacy Enhancement Actions for Public in Chengdu
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Workshop on New Concepts and Approaches of AI Literacy Enhancement Actions for the Public in Chengdu today (July 25):
(Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, Mr Wang Jingtao), (Member of the Standing Committee and Director General of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Sichuan Provincial Committee, Ms Zheng Li), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. AI is reshaping the global landscape of technology, industry, and social development at an unprecedented pace. It is essential to enhance public AI literacy so that our citizens can navigate this digital era safely and confidently. It is my pleasure to share with you how Hong Kong, China (HKC), enhances AI literacy for the public at today's workshop.
HKC is fully committed to fostering AI literacy across all sectors of society. Through the "AI for All" Inclusive Programme, we are adopting a tiered and collaborative model to support the needs of different segments of the community. Tier 1, Basics for All, promotes AI awareness and responsible use of AI for students, parents, the elderly and underprivileged groups. Tier 2, Professional Empowerment, equips university students, young researchers and professionals by translating their knowledge into practical skills and employability. Tier 3, Practical Enhancement, supports working professionals and small and medium-sized enterprises in strengthening efficiency and competitiveness through applied AI knowledge.
To further broaden public understanding, we launched an eight-episode TV series, "AI Masters Series", this year on free television channels at prime time, bringing AI education into every household. Throughout the series, we invited leading AI experts and industry leaders to share their insights through a lively and engaging approach to present complex technological knowledge as easy-to-understand content, thereby enhancing public awareness of the safe application, future trends and opportunities of AI, making AI a natural part of our social fabric.
Emerging technologies bring vast opportunities, yet the convergence of AI, governance and cybersecurity has become one of the defining challenges of our time. HKC has responded decisively by launching the Ethical AI Framework and the Hong Kong Generative AI Technical and Application Guideline to provide guidance for projects to develop and apply AI technologies in a responsible and ethical manner.
We are also advancing AI-related cybersecurity initiatives to further promote safe AI applications and deepen public awareness. For example, the Secure AI@Work Enablement Campaign boosts the safe application of AI technologies in the workplace. We will also hold the Cyber Attack and Defence Elite Training and Tournament next month, offering free training and simulated practical exercises to nurture cybersecurity talents and strengthen their capability to leverage AI in countering cyber threats.
In parallel, we are equipping our government workforce for the future. This year, we are rolling out online foundation AI training courses for all civil servants. Covering core concepts, guidelines, usage principles and ethical consideration, these courses enable civil servants to apply AI in a more effective and secure manner, with the ultimate goal of delivering more quality and responsive public services to our citizens.
Widespread understanding and secure adoption of AI lay the foundation for an AI-ready society. Through deepening exchanges and strengthening collaboration, let us build an AI-literate Asia-Pacific community where every citizen is empowered to grow and thrive in this AI era. Thank you.
Speech by SITI at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Workshop on New Concepts and Approaches of AI Literacy Enhancement Actions for Public in Chengdu Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
