Hong Kong and Guangdong Strengthen Informatisation Cooperation at 20th Expert Group Meeting

20th meeting of Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation held in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation convened its 20th meeting in Hong Kong today (October 20) to deepen sustained co-operation in informatisation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Guangdong Province.

Officials from the Digital Policy Office (DPO), together with relevant departments including the Office of the Communications Authority, the Innovation and Technology Commission, and Hong Kong Customs, attended the meeting on behalf of the HKSAR Government. Representatives from the Chinese Mainland who attended the meeting included officials from the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province (GDDIIT), the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, the Radio and Television Administration of Guangdong Province, the Guangdong Communications Administration, and the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission. Members of the HKSAR delegation comprised representatives from research institutions and industry organisations, including the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, and GS1 Hong Kong.

The Convenors of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group, the Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, and the Deputy Director-General of the GDDIIT, Mr Qu Xiaojie, reviewed the work progress and achievements of the Expert Group over the past year. They discussed and exchanged views on the work plan for the coming year. Both sides agreed to continue strengthening co-operation in the following five areas of informatisation:

1. accelerating the development of a Guangdong-Hong Kong smart city cluster;

2. deepening collaboration on cross-boundary e-commerce between Hong Kong and Guangdong;

3. enhancing informatisation for cross-boundary customs clearance;

4. continuing to deepen innovation and technology (I&T) co-operation; and

5. expediting co-operation in telecommunications business and infrastructure between Hong Kong and Guangdong.

Mr Wong said at the meeting that the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments have introduced a number of measures this year respectively to promote the development of AI in order to thoroughly implement the national strategy on AI development. The HKSAR Government announced the setup of the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team to co-ordinate and steer government departments in the effective use of AI technology, implement AI government services, and facilitate the widespread application and development of AI across different sectors. Under the leadership of the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team, the DPO will provide the AI Toolbox to promote the popular use of AI technologies and tools by departments in day-to-day administrative tasks such as data analysis, customer service and document processing. He stated that the cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area should leverage their respective strengths in the field of AI to collaboratively advance the development of AI and robotics industry clusters in the Greater Bay Area. Additionally, he pointed out that the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster leapt to first globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025 top 100 innovation clusters published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. This ranking fully reflects the outstanding innovation capability of the Greater Bay Area, which has been highly recognised worldwide. This achievement highlights the dedicated efforts of all member units of the task force. He expressed hope that the task force would engage in deeper and broader collaboration in promoting AI development in Hong Kong and Guangdongin the future.

Arranged by the DPO, the Guangdong delegation visited Cyberport's Digital Tech Centre after the meeting to learn how Hong Kong's I&T enterprises apply the latest cutting-edge technology solutions, such as AI, blockchain and Web3.0, and to understand their business applications.

In the afternoon, Cyberport, in collaboration with the Guangdong Software Industry Association, held the Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Enterprises Go Global Exchange Meeting. Representatives from the DPO, the GDDIIT, relevant departments, and some Guangdong-Hong Kong I&T enterprises attended. The Guangdong Software Industry Association introduced the newly established Guangdong-Hong Kong Software Go Global Service Alliance at the meeting, while Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council introduced the newly launched Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global, which is proactively attracting Chinese Mainland enterprises seeking to expand their overseas business to go global via Hong Kong. Organisations in Hong Kong offering services for enterprises to go global, including the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, and Cyberport, also introduced their relevant services respectively. Two Chinese Mainland enterprises focused on AI and electronic signatures also shared their experiences on how they leveraged Hong Kong to raise funds and list, and successfully expanded their businesses into overseas markets.

20th meeting of Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation held in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

20th meeting of Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation held in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

20th meeting of Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation held in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

20th meeting of Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation held in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

20th meeting of Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation held in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

20th meeting of Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation held in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Appointments to Quality Education Fund Steering Committee announced

The Government today (January 15) announced the reappointment of Mr Dieter Yih Lai-tak as the Chairman of the Quality Education Fund Steering Committee (QEFSC) and four incumbent members, as well as the appointment of one new member, to the committee. The tenure of their appointments is two years with effect from January 16, 2026.

The four incumbent members reappointed are Dr Susan Fan Yun-sun, Ms Lee Yi-ying, Dr James Li Tsz-shu and Ms Wong Yuk-hing. The newly appointed member is Ms Lam Wing-sze.

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said, "Under Mr Yih's outstanding leadership over the past two years, the Quality Education Fund (QEF) continued to support a wide range of worthwhile projects for promoting quality school education development in Hong Kong. I am confident that under Mr Yih's leadership, and with members' professional support, the QEF will continue to achieve outstanding results in the promotion of quality education in Hong Kong."

Dr Choi also expressed her gratitude to the outgoing member, Dr Shek Wai-keung, for his valuable contribution to and support for the QEFSC in the past years.

The QEF was established in 1998 with $5 billion in capital from the Government to fund innovative projects that help promote quality education in Hong Kong. The QEFSC advises on the policies and operation of the QEF and makes recommendations to the QEF Trustee on the funding applications.

Since its establishment, the QEF has supported over 14 600 projects, with total funding amounting to about $7.2 billion.

The membership list of the QEFSC with effect from January 16, 2026, is as follows:

Chairman

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Mr Dieter Yih Lai-tak

Appointed members

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Ms Rita Chan Yin-nei

Dr Susan Fan Yun-sun

Dr Daphne Ho Kin-yi

Ms Eva Charisa Hsu

Ms Lam Wing-sze #

Ms Lee Yi-ying

Dr Promail Leung Kin-yi

Mr David Leung Yiu-fai

Dr James Li Tsz-shu

Mr Benjamin Ng Yau-keung

Dr Winnie Tang Shuk-ming

Mr Richard Tsang Lap-ki

Mr Simon Wong Hin-wing

Mr Wong Kam-po

Mr Addy Wong Wai-hung

Ms Wong Yuk-hing

Ex-officio member

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Deputy Secretary for Education (5)

# New appointee

Source: AI-found images