Launch of People-oriented Technology Programme to Provide High-Tech Prostheses for Amputees in Hong Kong

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Kevin Choi; and the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee, attended the Kick-off Ceremony of the People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today (May 26) to witness a major milestone in the application of intelligent bionic hands and smart bionic knee joints in Hong Kong, through the collaboration between Qiangnao Technology and PolyU. The ceremony also marked another innovative technological achievement to benefit the public. The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Qiangnao Technology, Mr Han Bicheng; representative of Qiangnao Technology Ms Sienna Xu; the President of PolyU, Professor Teng Jin-Guang; the Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, Professor Christopher Chao; and the Henry G Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering of PolyU, Professor Zheng Yongping, also attended the ceremony.

The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address announced that the Government would support people-oriented scientific research through the Innovation and Technology (I&T) Fund to introduce prostheses built with new research and development technologies. Qiangnao Technology is a leading global enterprise in the field of brain-computer interfaces and is also one of "Hangzhou's Six Little Dragons", representing China's breakthrough development in this cutting-edge field. PolyU, meanwhile, has a strong research foundation and international influence in prosthetics and orthotics, rehabilitation sciences and biomedical engineering. With funding support from the I&T Fund, the two sides earlier launched a collaborative project. In the first phase of the programme, 60 amputees in Hong Kong will be provided with the new high-tech prostheses free of charge, together with professional assessment and rehabilitation support services by a PolyU team to help recipients gradually adapt to and master the use of prosthetics, thereby comprehensively improving their daily living abilities and quality of life.

In his speech, Professor Sun said that today's I&T initiatives respond to the National 15th Five-Year Plan, which calls for the full implementation of the "AI+" action plan to empower public well-being through AI. Hong Kong possesses strong research capabilities, with five universities ranked among the world's top 100 and two medical schools in the global top 40. It has a solid foundation in life and health technology, AI, and robotics, and is well positioned to put into practice the principle of technology for the benefit of people. The launch of the programme also embodies the original intent of using technology for good and being people-oriented, bringing cutting-edge technologies into real-world applications, to the lives of citizens in need.

Mr Han said: "Over the next two years, with the support of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Qiangnao will work with PolyU and partners from all sectors of society to diligently implement the project and provide service support, so that more eligible amputees in Hong Kong can receive high-tech prostheses free of charge. We will also continue to enhance product experience and rehabilitation support services."

Professor Teng said, "Advanced scientific research must ultimately benefit society. The vision for developing people-oriented technology, as outlined in the Chief Executive's Policy Address, aligns perfectly with PolyU's motto, 'To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind'. This Programme holds immense significance: Qiangnao brings world-leading core technologies in intelligent bionic prostheses, while PolyU provides local implementation, promotion, and scientific research support. The team will evaluate the effectiveness of the technology based on clinical application scenarios, collect user feedback for timely adjustments and optimisations, and continuously improve the overall user experience. With the support of the I&T Fund, this initiative ensures that cutting-edge technology truly serves public livelihood and benefits society."

At the ceremony, amputees who had been fitted with the high-tech prostheses under the programme shared their experience and stories. The high-tech prostheses used in this collaboration do not require any implantation. Through non-invasive brain-computer interface technology, they use the wearer's myoelectric and neural signals to enable natural, precise, and flexible motion control, opening up a new direction for the development of rehabilitation technology.

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, speaks at the Kick-off Ceremony of the People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University today (May 26). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Land and Development Advisory Committee holds meeting

The Development Bureau briefed the Land and the Development Advisory Committee (LDAC) at its meeting today (July 27) on the two new measures to incentivise urban renewal. The major arrangements of the measures are as follows:

(1) The Bonus Plot Ratio Pilot Scheme: If a developer commits to pull down a building with residential elements in the seven designated areas (Note), whose building age reached 50 years or above with the site area not less than 700 square metres, and redevelop it into residential use, an additional 20 per cent premium-free gross floor area (GFA) will be provided as bonus. The developer can choose to submit planning application to the Town Planning Board (TPB) to directly utilise the bonus plot ratio in kind for in-situ redevelopment. The developer can also choose to translate the bonus plot ratio into land premium value for offsetting the land premium payable for in-situ redevelopment or any other land transactions in the Northern Metropolisand other parts of the territory. To simplify the execution procedures, the Government will use standard rates to calculate the premium value of the bonus plot ratio. All in-situ redevelopment projects joining the Pilot Scheme are required to be effected by means of lease modification to ensure timely completion of the redevelopment project. The bonus plot ratio will not affect other existing GFA concession measures. Subject to market response, the Development Bureau will evaluate the effectiveness of the Pilot Scheme, as well as introduce adjustments where necessary and consider whether the period of the Pilot Scheme will have to be extended; and

(2) The cross-district transfer of plot ratio (TPR) arrangement: It is to relax the current arrangements of TPR within the same district, allowing cross-district transfer of plot ratio from the sending sites to other areas across the territory, including the New Development Areas, so as to reduce the development density in the urban area. It is also to extend the geographic coverage of sending sites from Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei to the remaining five designated areas (Note), as well as removing the limit of two receiving sites and reducing the site area requirement of receiving sites from 1000sqm to 700sqm. To provide additional incentives, if the sending site is used for designated uses benefiting the local community, subject to the TPB's approval, certain premium-free GFA could be provided within the sending sites as bonus GFA, in addition to the full transfer of the plot ratio and GFA from sending sites in order to support the on-going management and maintenance of the sending site. Furthermore, the premium assessment arrangement will be relaxed to allow the land premium assessment for the sending sites and receiving sites to be combined. All cross-district TPR proposals will require submission of planning applications to the TPB, which will perform a gatekeeping role in ensuring the transfer will not cause adverse impact to the surrounding environment.

The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said "At present, the pace of building ageing in Hong Kong far exceeds that of redevelopment by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and the private market. In the past decade, the number of buildings aged 50 years or above increased by about 510 per year, while on average only 160 buildings were demolished by the URA and the private sector. And not many redevelopment projects in old districts are financially viable these days. In this regard, the Government has to adopt a new mindset and bold policy thinking to give a stronger policy push to encourage the private sector to participate in urban renewal, with a view to expediting redevelopment and rescuing urban decay."

Members were very supportive of the two new measures proposed by the Government. They agreed that the Bonus Plot Ratio Pilot Scheme would provide incentives and enhance the financial viability of redevelopment projects in old districts, and that the cross-district TPR arrangement could further incentivise the market to use the planning tool to expedite urban renewal.

Members considered that it was time to give bolder and stronger push to promote urban redevelopment by the URA and the market. If the response of these measures is positive, members expected that the Government could extend the Pilot scheme and consider relaxing the implementation arrangements where appropriate. Given the measures would involve a lot of technical implementation details, Members would like the Government to set out such details in the application guidelines of the relevant measures, so as to facilitate implementation.

The above are two of the measures announced in the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address to expedite urban renewal. Having consulted relevant stakeholders and taken into account their comments, the Government has formulated the implementation arrangements. The LDAC today mainly discussed the implementation details of the relevant proposals.

The Government will issue a joint practice notes for launching the Bonus Plot Ratio Pilot Scheme and revise the TPB Guidelines on TPR after obtaining the TPB's endorsement, with a view to launching the two schemes in the third quarter of 2026.

Note: The seven designated areas refer to Cheung Sha Wan (the same Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) covering also Sham Shui Po), Ma Tau Kok (covering Kowloon City and To Kwa Wan), Mong Kok, Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan (covered by the same OZP), Tsuen Wan, Wan Chai and Yau Ma Tei.

Source: AI-found images