Beijing-Hong Kong Session Enhances Collaboration in Digital Economy and Innovation Technologies

DPO organises digital economy exchange activities to promote digital collaboration between Beijing and Hong Kong

​The Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology organised the Digital Economy Going Global Thematic Promotion Session in Hong Kong today (November 13). There, experts, academics and enterprise representatives from both places engaged in extensive discussions and exchanges on further promoting Beijing-Hong Kong collaboration in innovation and technology (I&T) as well as driving the digital economy. The theme of the Session was "Beijing-Hong Kong Digital Connectivity: Building a Collaborative International Digital Economy Ecosystem".

In her welcoming remarks, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, shared Hong Kong's role and actions of promoting international co-operation in the digital economy. The digital economy has already become a core engine of global high-quality economic development, as well as contributing to the reshaping of the competition landscape. Technologies such as cloud computing, blockchain, big data, and AI have not only fostered countless new industries and business models, but have also enabled more efficient cross-border collaborations and an optimised allocation of global resources. Beijing, as the country's hub for technological innovation and the digital economy, has leading advantages in core technologies, industrial systems, and the creation of application scenarios. Hong Kong, leveraging the advantages of the "one country, two systems" framework, serves as a "super connector" bridging the Mainland and the world. Hong Kong's regulations with international standards, top-tier research capabilities, convergence of international talent, and its advantages in international data flow provide unique support for the cross-border movement of digital elements and international technological co-operation. The strong partnership between the two places creates an ideal situation for building a collaborative ecosystem for international co-operation.

Ms Cheong added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to AI development and identifies it as a core industry. Over the past few years, the Government has been actively planning and promoting the advancement of AI technologies and applications on multiple fronts. Ms Cheong took the opportunity to invite Chinese Mainland enterprises attending the Promotion Session to seize AI opportunities together with Hong Kong and jointly build a collaborative ecosystem for international co-operation, thereby making greater contributions to the nation's high-quality development and the building of a great country.

Ms Cheong presented certificates to the successful enterprises of the Beijing-Hong Kong AI Application Accelerator and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Hong Kong Cyberportand the Beijing Go Global Hub for Digital Enterprises.

The Assistant Commissioner (Mainland and Industry Collaboration) of the DPO, Ms Cari Wu, chaired a roundtable dialogue at the event on the same day, leading guests to engage in in-depth discussions and exchanges on ways to collaborate, including a future Beijing-Hong Kong co-operation mechanism, leveraging resource complementarity between Beijing and Hong Kong, and promoting enterprises going global.

Additionally, Ms Wu attended the Beijing-Hong Kong Digital Economy Enterprise Going Global Service Seminar yesterday (November 12) which was well received, drawing active participation from industry experts and insiders from both Beijing and Hong Kong. The seminar aimed to provide a collaborative platform, harnessing the wisdom and strengths of both places to explore how to integrate the policy advantages, service resources and enterprise powers of Beijing and Hong Kong to jointly construct an innovative ecosystem to expand the digital economy and go global.

At the seminar, Ms Wu shared Hong Kong's policies and efforts in assisting Chinese Mainland technology enterprises to go global. This year's Policy Address proposed the establishment of a one-stop platform, the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global, which was set up early last month and has commenced its work. Ms Wu expressed gratitude to one of the organisers of the seminar, the Hong Kong China Friendship Association, which has brought together a vast network of economic, professional services, and technology talent in Hong Kong, Macao and overseas, serving as a strong support for the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global.

In addition, the Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, held an insightful exchange session on topics such as promoting digital government, data governance and smart city development with the delegation from the Beijing Municipal Administration of Government Services and Data Administration on November 11. The delegation was led by Deputy Secretary-General of the Beijing Municipal Government and Party Secretary and Director of the Beijing Municipal Administration of Government Services and Data Management, Mr Shen Binhua. Mr Wong and representatives of the DPO shared Hong Kong's latest developments on digital government, data governance, digital infrastructure and the 1823 hotline service. The delegation also visited the 1823 Contact Centre to understand the centre's daily operations and its application of I&T.

The exchange session has deepened the understanding of the digital economy and digital government developments between Beijing and Hong Kong, laying a solid foundation for driving high-quality development in smart city matters across both places.

DPO organises digital economy exchange activities to promote digital collaboration between Beijing and Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DPO organises digital economy exchange activities to promote digital collaboration between Beijing and Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DPO organises digital economy exchange activities to promote digital collaboration between Beijing and Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DPO organises digital economy exchange activities to promote digital collaboration between Beijing and Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DPO organises digital economy exchange activities to promote digital collaboration between Beijing and Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DPO organises digital economy exchange activities to promote digital collaboration between Beijing and Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DPO organises digital economy exchange activities to promote digital collaboration between Beijing and Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DPO organises digital economy exchange activities to promote digital collaboration between Beijing and Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming passenger was sentenced to 29 days of imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (May 23) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted the incoming 58-year-old male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point yesterday (May 22) and seized 1 981 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes from him. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $8,100, and the duty potential was about $6,500. He was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases