Digital Policy Office introduces initiatives to promote cybersecurity in 2026
The Digital Policy Office (DPO) introduced the key initiatives for the second half of the year and reviewed the work onpromoting cybersecurity in the first half of theyear at the 2026 Cybersecurity Initiatives Briefing today (June 2). Representatives from the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) and the Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC) also shared the latest cybercrime trends and a series of measures to enhance the overall cybersecurity defence capabilities of the community.
The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, stated that in the face of the opportunities and challenges brought by the deep integration of emerging technologies, such as AI, into daily life and business operations, the Government has adhered to a strategy that places equal emphasis on security and development. It has adopted a multipronged approach to continuously strengthen Hong Kong's overall cyber resilience. Reviewing the DPO's cybersecurity efforts in the first half of the year, Mr Cheung stated that the DPO, in collaboration with industry partners, launched various cybersecurity activities across campuses, enterprises and the community. These initiatives included the debut of a phishing email exercise for secondary school students, phishing SMS exercises, the launch of the CyberDefenders' Alliance Card Game and an AI-generated four-panel comic contest, all aimed at raising public awareness of the latest cyber risks and introducingpractical protective measures.
In response to the growing adoption of AI technology, the DPO will focus on launching a number of key AI-related cybersecurity initiatives in the second half of the year, ensuring that the general public and organisations possess adequate security awareness and literacy when utilising AI. These include co-ordinating with the HKIRC to introduce the Secure AI@Work Enablement Campaign to assist enterprises in building a secure and compliant AI ecosystem, as well as collaborating with the industry to host the AI x Cybersecurity Challenge to leverage the potential of driving AI-powered threat detection and resilience while advancing cybersecurity talent development. Concurrently, the DPO will continue to deepen enterprise support and practical drills. In addition to co-ordinating with the HKIRC and HKCERT to launch the enhanced Cybersec One+ and enrich the Cybersecurity Service Providers Connect Programme, the DPO will also continue to take the lead in organising the third Hong Kong Cybersecurity Attack and Defence Drill. Furthermore, this December will mark the first-ever grand consolidation of the Cyber Security Summit Hong Kong and the Cybersecurity Symposium into a single integrated Cybersecurity Symposium and Summit, co-organised with the HKIRC and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), with an aim to synergise forces from all sectors of the community to jointly build a safe and efficient smart city.
At the briefing, the Chief Superintendent of the CSTCB, Mr Lam Cheuk-ho, pointed out that cyber threat intelligence targeting Hong Kong continues to rise. In the first quarter of this year, the Cyber Security Centre under the CSTCB analysed over 330 000 pieces of related intelligence, with phishing being the most rampant. He emphasised that to address these increasingly severe challenges, the CSTCB will adopt a multipronged strategy to deepen international law enforcement co-operation externally, while internally strengthening intelligence sharing and collaborative defence with various sectors, including critical infrastructures. Concurrently, the CSTCB will actively apply AI and big data technologies to enhance cyber threat detection, early warning analysis, and incident response capabilities. Furthermore, the Hong Kong Police Force and Cyberport have established the Smart Policing Joint AI Lab to develop anti-deepfake and network defence technologies, working together to fortify the local cybersecurity ecosystem.
Speaking on behalf of HKCERT, the Chief Digital Officer of the HKPC, Mr Edmond Lai, stated that HKCERT will deepen public education and talent cultivation in AI and cybersecurity through various publicity campaigns. Among these initiatives, the winning entries from the recently organised AI-generated four-panel comic contest will be featured in a tram body advertising campaign. Concurrently, HKCERT will raise public awareness of cybersecurity through AI-generated short videos and posters, and will subsequently host the AI x Cybersecurity Challenge along with the 7th HKCERT Capture the Flag Challenge. Furthermore, HKCERT is optimising the exclusive platform under the Cybersecurity Service Providers Connect Programme with two new functions, namelydemand matching and tag classification,to help local enterprises more efficiently look for appropriate cybersecurity solutions.
The Chief Executive Officer of the HKIRC, Mr Wilson Wong, also shared the findings of a survey on the current state of AI adoption and security in the workplaces of Hong Kong enterprises. He pointed out that while the penetration rate of AI in the workplace is exceptionally high, most organisations still face security risks regarding governance, tool usage and training. To address these issues, the HKIRC will launch the Secure AI@Work Enablement Campaign, which will assist organisations in plugging governance gaps through training, AI strategy and policy formulation tools and advisory services.
In conclusion, Mr Cheung emphasised that security is the prerequisite for development, and development is the guarantee of security. A robust and reliable cyber environment serves as the foundational cornerstone for driving the development of a smart city and the digital economy, whereas maintaining cybersecurity requires the collective effort of the entire society. Looking ahead, the DPO will continue to comprehensively strengthen Hong Kong's cyber defence capabilities and resilience through a diverse range of activities and training initiatives. He also appealed for media support to widely disseminate key cybersecurity messages and work with the Government to foster a safer and more secure digital environment.
Digital Policy Office introduces initiatives to promote cybersecurity in 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Digital Policy Office introduces initiatives to promote cybersecurity in 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (June 2) led a business delegation comprising representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises to continue its visit programme to Kazakhstan. He met with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr Olzhas Bektenov, visited various enterprises, and witnessed the achievement of multiple outcomes among government departments, enterprises and organisations of Hong Kong, the Mainland and Kazakhstan.
In the morning, Mr Lee visited Baiterek National Investment Holding, a national investment holding company of Kazakhstan, and met with the Chairman of the Board, Mr Rustam Timurovich Karagoishin. The company is a key financial operator of Kazakhstan's Government, with subsidiaries covering development bank, an entrepreneurship development fund, export insurance and housing, for promoting the sustainable growth of Kazakhstan's economy. He encouraged the company to leverage Hong Kong's well-established financial system and professional services to strengthen co-operation in areas such as infrastructure financing, bonds, and green finance. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is pushing ahead at full speed with the development of the Northern Metropolis (NM), which covers multiple innovation and technology (I&T) and infrastructure projects, and serves as a new engine for Hong Kong's future development. He welcomed the company to explore the development potential of the NM and to jointly create new business opportunities.
Afterwards, Mr Lee met with Mr Bektenov to exchange views on strengthening bilateral co-operation. He noted that at the beginning of this year, Hong Kong was the world's 10th-largest net investor in Kazakhstan, and Asia's fourth-largest, reflecting close economic and trade ties between the two places. Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantages of having strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. Hong Kong is an international financial, shipping and trading centre, and ranks No. 1 globally in economic freedom, enabling it to build bridges and create opportunities for investors. Hong Kong has been leveraging its world-leading professional services to help enterprises go global. He expressed the hope that Hong Kong and Kazakhstan would strengthen hub-to-hub connectivity, with Kazakhstan serving as a hub for Hong Kong to connect with the Central Asian market, and Hong Kong serving as a hub for Kazakhstan to enter East and Southeast Asian markets, thereby establishing a hub-to-hub co-operation model for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
At noon, Mr Lee attended a business luncheon hosted by the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, where he delivered a speech to local political and business representatives, introducing Hong Kong's business advantages and development opportunities.
In his speech at the luncheon, Mr Lee was pleased to announce that multiple outcomes had been achieved during this visit. Notably, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan have agreed to push ahead at full speed with exploratory discussions on a Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, and discussions on an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, with the aim of concluding such agreements as soon as possible. In addition, a Hong Kong airline plans to launch direct flights to Almaty in the first quarter of 2027, further promoting economic, trade and people-to-people exchanges.
Mr Lee said that the Hong Kong business delegation has so far concluded a total of 43 Memoranda of Understanding and agreements covering areas including aviation, finance and trade, I&T, the digital economy, and green development. Discussions are continuing, and more co-operation agreements are expected to be reached.
In the afternoon, Mr Lee visited Samruk-Kazyna, the national sovereign wealth fund of Kazakhstan, and met with its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Nurlan Zhakupov, to learn about the fund's diversified portfolio of assets and Kazakhstan's investment strategies across different sectors. Mr Lee said that Hong Kong, as a safe harbour, offers a stable and secure investment environment. Hong Kong, ranked first globally in terms of funds raised through initial public offerings in the first quarter of this year, is an ideal listing and financing destination for the assets under the fund. He encouraged projects under the fund to list in Hong Kong and to make good use of Hong Kong's capital markets for investment risk diversification.
Mr Lee subsequently met with the Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, Mr Arman Shakkaliyev, to exchange views on further deepening bilateral trade co-operation. Hong Kong is the world's fifth-largest trading entity in the merchandise trade economy, firmly supports and upholds free trade and multilateralism, and continues to expand its global trade network. Kazakhstan is actively expanding its role as a regional trading hub, promoting digital commerce and modernising its markets. There is vast room for co-operation between the two places in areas such as trade, logistics and financial technology. Enterprises in Kazakhstan can use Hong Kong as a gateway for exploring the markets of the Mainland and Asia. Hong Kong will continue to play its roles as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder", working hand in hand with Kazakhstan to explore new opportunities in economic and trade co-operation.
Mr Lee will continue his visit to Kazakhstan tomorrow (June 3) before proceeding to Uzbekistan to continue his visit programme.
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation to continue visit to Kazakhstan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
