Hong Kong's Digital Policy Commissioner Promotes Cybersecurity and Innovation During Shanghai Visit

2025-08-27 19:18 Last Updated At：20:13

Commissioner for Digital Policy visits Hangzhou and Shanghai

The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, attended the opening ceremony of the 2025 Hong Kong Information Technology and Cybersecurity Special Training Course and events related to the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge (HSODC) 2025 during his visit to Hangzhou and Shanghai from August 24 to 28.

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Commissioner for Digital Policy visits Hangzhou and Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Source: AI-found images

Commissioner for Digital Policy visits Hangzhou and Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

During the first stop in Hangzhou, Mr Wong visited Zhejiang University on August 24 and 25 to attend the 2025 Hong Kong Information Technology and Cybersecurity Special Training Course. Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Wong said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is fully committed to aligning with the nation's technological innovation and development strategy, and safeguarding cybersecurity is of paramount importance in the pursuit of promoting high-quality development in innovation and technology (I&T) for the nation and Hong Kong." He encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions, fostering knowledge sharing and mutual learning to strengthen Hong Kong's cybersecurity and digital ecosystem, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of the nation's digital economy.

The training course attracted 30 industry representatives from Hong Kong, representing government departments, public organisations and key infrastructure operators across sectors such as public services, banking, financial services, energy, communications, and transport, etc. During the seven-day training course, participants will engage in classroom learning, pay visits to prominent innovative technology enterprises in Hangzhou, and attend related seminars and discussions.

Mr Wong then proceeded to visit Shanghai to show his support for the Hong Kong teams competing in the HSODC 2025 and serve as one of the judges for the Grand Award. Jointly steered by the Digital Policy Office (DPO) of the HKSAR Government and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data, the HSODC 2025 marks the third consecutive year of collaboration between the two cities. With the theme "Co-creating a Data Industry Platform for the Two Cities", the HSODC 2025 encourages contestants to harness the extensive open data resources available in the two cities to create innovative projects and develop frontier applications that emphasise four key areas, namely smart mobility, smart living, smart environment, and smart economy, thereby jointly driving deeper integration and fostering synergy in the digital economies of the two cities.

The Final Judging and the Awards Presentation Ceremony were held in Shanghai yesterday (August 26) and today (August 27) respectively. The Hong Kong delegation, comprising 13 teams from various enterprises and institutions, performed outstandingly in the competition, with Territory North Group winning the Grand Award and Best SmartEnvironment Award with their solution "Hong Kong Environmental Database", while Metro Maestro claimed the Best SmartMobility Award with their solution "Passenger Route Choice Simulation". Some of the contesting entries will be nominated to compete for the national 2025 "Data Element x" competition jointly organised by the National Data Administration and relevant departments, further showcasing Hong Kong's I&T strengths.

Mr Wong remarked, "In response to the national strategy of unleashing the multiplier effect of data elements, the governments of Hong Kong and Shanghai have jointly organised this competition again this year to deepen collaboration in digital technology, thus driving high-quality economic and social development in both cities. In April this year, the DPO and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Shanghai and Hong Kong on Digital Economy Co-operation (the MOU) to further deepen I&T co-operation and promote the joint development of the digital economy in both cities, thereby opening up deeper and broader collaboration prospects for the I&T industries between the two places." He also extended his heartfelt congratulations to the winning teams and encouraged all participants to continue striving for breakthroughs and progress in innovation and data application for making greater contributions to the country and society.

In addition, Mr Wong called on the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data today and cochaired a mid-term review meeting following the signing of the MOU, with the Director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data, Dr Shao Jun. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on deepening collaboration on areas of the digital economy, digital transformation and data element development between the two places, which included the promotion of mutual authentication of corporation identities, the promotion of connections of the governments' platforms and the support for the innovative application of open data. Mr Wong expressed his gratitude to the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data for its prompt efforts in compiling a list of practical and feasible co-operation work items with Hong Kong that were in line with the I&T developments in both cities after the signing of the MOU. This will help enhance the joint development of I&T and the digital economy between Shanghai and Hong Kong, thereby achieving mutual benefits.

Tomorrow (August 28), Mr Wong will call on the Shanghai Municipal Cyberspace Administration to share the implementation experiences and latest developments of the facilitation measures on the Standard Contract for the Cross-boundary Flow of Personal Information within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Mainland, Hong Kong), and visit the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Shanghai Center, as well as the Shanghai Innovation Institute and the MetaX Artificial Intelligence Data Centre to learn about the latest developments in the local AI technologies and industry. Mr Wong will conclude his visit and return to Hong Kong tomorrow evening.

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's Digital Policy Commissioner Promotes Cybersecurity and Innovation During Shanghai Visit

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