Digital Policy Office Leads I&T Industry Delegation to Visit Fuzhou

Digital Policy Office leads I&T industry delegation to visit Fuzhou

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, led a Hong Kong innovation and technology (I&T) industry delegation to visit Fuzhou to attend the 9th Digital China Summit and to participate in the Hong Kong Pavilion at the on-site experience area. The Summit runs for seven days starting from yesterday (April 28) at the Fuzhou Strait International Conference and Exhibition Center. The Hong Kong Pavilion is co-organised by the Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the Fujian Liaison Unit of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). It showcases I&T products and solutions from over 20 Hong Kong exhibitors, further facilitates collaboration between Hong Kong enterprises and the Chinese Mainland, and demonstrates Hong Kong's solid achievements in the digital technology area.

The exhibits in the Hong Kong Pavilion mainly come from award-winning projects in the Hong Kong ICT Awards as well as the Maker in China SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Contest - Hong Kong Chapter. They cover a wide range of cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality and augmented reality, blockchain, big data, Web3.0, the Internet of Things and drone technology. The applications of the exhibits are diverse, spanning fields such as fintech, biotechnology, digital entertainment, presentation skills training, the low-altitude economy and green hydrogen, highlighting Hong Kong's achievements in facilitating business upgrade and transformation through technological innovation, as well as its efficient advancement of new quality productive forces.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion yesterday morning, Mr Cheung stated that the DPO once again led a delegation to participate in the Summit and set up the Hong Kong Pavilion this year. The exhibition provides a golden opportunity for Hong Kong's I&T enterprises to showcase their services and products to Chinese Mainland investors, helping the enterprises tap into the enormous domestic market, and allowing them to integrate into the overall I&T development of the country. Mr Cheung also invited leading technology enterprises and talent from Fujian to set up their businesses in Hong Kong and establish a presence in the Northern Metropolis. This will not only promote Hong Kong/Fujian co-operation and industrial upgrading, but also support collaboration with the Hong Kong industry to jointly venture into international markets.

On the afternoon of the same day, Mr Cheung visited the Fuzhou Software Park, one of the top 10 software parks in China, to learn about the Park's layout in developing three major industrial clusters focusing on software and information technology services, smart manufacturing of optoelectronic chips, and new-generation information technology, as well as its development direction in building a demonstration base for the information technology application innovation (ITAI) industry. He also visited Fujian Yirong Information Technology Co Ltd in the Park to gain a deeper understanding of its enterprise project "ITAI application migration and adaptation component", which has been selected for the provincial science and technology plans, and the company's one-stop ITAI informatisation solutions supporting smart grid operations for domestic energy and power authorities. Meanwhile, he visited Hengfeng Information Technology Co Ltd to gain insights into its smart city solutions in areas including people's livelihood, public safety, disaster risk reduction and resilience, as well as urban management.

Last evening, Mr Cheung also attended the Digital China AI CITY Summit organised by Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. He shared the latest developments in the HKSAR Government's AI application to promote smart city and smart government, as well as how the development of the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster in the Northern Metropolis will help position Hong Kong as an international data hub and a leading centre for AI computing power. He also mentioned that the HKSAR Government will establish the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy to formulate strategies for AI to empower the transformation and development of industries.

Mr Cheung this morning (April 29) attended the opening ceremony of the Digital China Summit. The Summit was jointly organised by the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Data Administration, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Fujian Provincial People's Government, and undertaken by the Fuzhou Municipal People's Government and relevant units. The theme is "Accelerating Innovation and Development in Digital Technologies and Deepening the Building of Digital China". In the afternoon, Mr Cheung participated in a sub-forum on e-government services hosted by the CAC, delivering a keynote speech on strategies for advancing digital government and "AI + Civil Services" in Hong Kong. He also attended a sub-forum on digital sports hosted by the General Administration of Sport of China, and introduced the technological applications and practices of the Kai Tak Sports Park during the high-level dialogue session.

Mr Cheung concluded his visit today and returned to Hong Kong in the evening.

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, attended a sub-forum on digital sports of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou today (April 29). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, attended a sub-forum on e-government services of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou today (April 29). Photo shows Mr Cheung delivering a keynote speech. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung (right), attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou today (April 29). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, attended the Digital China AI CITY Summit organised by Huawei Technologies Co Ltd in Fuzhou yesterday (April 28). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung (third left), visited Hengfeng Information Technology Co Ltd in Fuzhou yesterday (April 28). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung (front row, first left), visited Fujian Yirong Information Technology Co Ltd in the Fuzhou Software Park yesterday (April 28). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung (second left), visited the Fuzhou Software Park yesterday (April 28). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung (first left), visited the Hong Kong Pavilion at the on-site experience area of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou yesterday (April 28) and was briefed by an exhibitor on Hong Kong's innovation and technology products and solutions. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, visited the Hong Kong Pavilion at the on-site experience area of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou yesterday (April 28). Photo shows Mr Cheung (second right) with other guests. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, attended the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion at the on-site experience area of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou yesterday (April 28). Photo shows Mr Cheung delivering a speech. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, attended the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion at the on-site experience area of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou yesterday (April 28). Photo shows Mr Cheung (first row, eighth right) with members of the Hong Kong delegation and other guests. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

New private driving instructor's licences open for applications from May 11

The Transport Department (TD) today (April 30) announced that a total of 332 new private driving instructor's (PDI) licences will be open for applications from 9am on May 11 until 5pm on May 29. The quotas for each group are tabulated below:

PDI group

Number of new licences to be issued

Public Quota

Driving Instructor Quota

Group 1: private cars and light goods vehicles

160

54

Group 2: public light buses, private light buses, public buses and private buses

37

13

Group 3: medium goods vehicles, heavy goods vehicles and articulated vehicles

51

17

A spokesman for the TD said, "Following the completion of the periodic review on the issue of new PDI licences, including a detailed review of learner drivers' demand for driver training from PDIs, the issuance of new licences according to the mechanism aims to ensure an adequate supply of PDIs to meet the demand for driver training, while sustaining market competition."

Applicants should note the following:

The Guidance Notes for Applicants for each group and quota can be downloaded from the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) for applicants to thoroughly understand the qualification requirements for different quotas and submit applications according to their own circumstances;

Applicants must complete and submit the online application form from May 11 to 29 via the designated online platform using an "iAM Smart+" account with the digital signing function or a valid digital certificate. Applicants yet to register for "iAM Smart+" should do so as soon as possible.Upon receipt of their applications, applicants will receive an SMS confirming the application number;

Applicants must meet the qualifications for the relevant groups and quotas. Only one application may be submitted for each group (regardless of Public or Driving Instructor Quota). Late applications will not be accepted;

If the number of applications exceeds the number of licences to be issued for an individual group and quota, the TD will draw lots to determine the order of handling the applications (details to be announced separately), and verify applicants' eligibility and arrange for them to take the driving instructor's test in sequence;

The driving instructor's tests are expected to commence as early as July and the TD will notify qualified applicants individually; and

If all licences are issued, the remaining applications will not be processed.

For enquiries, please call the TD's hotline at 2804 2600.

Source: AI-found images