Welcome remarks by SITI at LEAP East 2026 Opening Ceremony
Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the LEAP East 2026 Opening Ceremony today (July 8):
Your Excellency Minister Alswaha (Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, Mr Abdullah Alswaha), Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to Hong Kong! It is my great pleasure to join all of you today for the LEAP East 2026 – the first time the LEAP technology conference is being held outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I would like to thank Your Excellency Minister Alswaha for extending LEAP from Saudi Arabia to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government is honoured to support this landmark international event.
Standing here today, I am reminded of my duty visit to Saudi Arabia in 2024 and the pleasant experience at LEAP in Riyadh, where the first ever Hong Kong Pavilion was set up there. My visit was of course very impressive. It set in motion the new chapter for the innovation and technology (I&T) collaboration between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.
Today, as we are hosting LEAP East in Hong Kong, we are delighted to welcome over 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors, over 400 investors, and over 35 000 visitors from 30 countries and regions, together strong participation from 14 provinces and cities from the Chinese Mainland. Don't forget this is the first time the LEAP organises technology conference outside the Saudi Arabia. This international gathering reflects the rising global I&T momentum, and Hong Kong is proud to serve as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" for international exchanges.
Guided by the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint promulgated in 2022, we are now building a comprehensive I&T ecosystem with strategic focus on life and health technologies, AI and robotics, as well as advanced manufacturing and energy and so on. Our vision remains very clear – to develop Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. Now please allow me to update you on Hong Kong's latest I&T scene.
Being home to five of the world's top 100 universities, Hong Kong is internationalised with strong R&D (research and development) capabilities. Our flagship InnoHK research platform now has supported 38 laboratories in collaboration with more than 30 world-renowned universities and research institutes from 12 economies, in collaboration with many research scientists from different parts of the world. Now the research laboratories have put together over 3 000 international talents. The laboratories focus on several important areas in addition to life and health technologies, robotics and AI. The new laboratories has recently expanded to sustainable development, advanced manufacturing, energy and materials. We welcome the top universities and research institutes from Saudi Arabia and around the world to join us on this meaningful journey.
Our digital infrastructure is also advancing rapidly to support future AI growth. In addition to Cyberport's AI Supercomputing Centre, which I mentioned at LEAP 2024, the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster under construction now will provide computing power of 180,000 PFLOPS around 2032, a thirty-six-fold increase that will position Hong Kong as an international data hub.
At the same time, Hong Kong's strategic innovation platforms are taking shape. The Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone opened last December, together with its extension, San Tin Technopole, are integral pillars of our nation's overarching strategy to build a self-reliant, world-class innovation and technology ecosystem.
The HKSAR Government's commitment to I&T is further demonstrated through funding support, including three so-called HK$10 billion funding initiatives, more than USD3.8 billion in total. These include the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme to accelerate commercialisation of R&D outcomes; the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme to support smart production facilities; and the I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, a fund-of-funds to channel more market capital into the emerging strategic industries.
Our efforts are bearing fruit. The number of start-ups in Hong Kong has surged by 40 per cent since 2021, reaching 5 200 in 2025. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster, ranked first globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025. Hong Kong ranked fourth globally in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025, and what is more, ranked second globally in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026.
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 has opened extraordinary opportunities for technological development, digital transformation, and new industries. Under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong enjoys the unparalleled advantages of strong support from our Motherland while remaining closely connected to the world. We are the ideal gateway for Mainland enterprises to go global, and for overseas, including Saudi Arabian, Middle East enterprises to venture into the GBA (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area) and the boarder Mainland market. With our global network, pivotal role in the Belt and Road Initiative, and position within the GBA's 88-million-population market, Hong Kong is uniquely placed to support overseas companies seeking global collaboration, R&D collaboration, and access to Chinese and Asian markets. Indeed, in the past several years, we have facilitated nearly 700, leading or high-potential I&T enterprises to establish or expand their presence in Hong Kong.
Ladies and gentlemen, innovation is ultimately creating meaningful value and contributing to the betterment of humankind. Hong Kong stands ready to work with partners from Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and around the world to build new bridges and shape a sustainable, innovative future. I invite you to experience our vibrant I&T ecosystem and explore the opportunities that await. Hong Kong offers inspiration at every hour, and I hope you will feel it throughout your stay in Hong Kong.
Finally, may I wish LEAP East every success. I wish we work together, leap forward, and make significant strides together. Thank you very much.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, Photo source: reference image
ICAC continues to combat corruption on all fronts charting new milestones for the Country and Hong Kong
The following press release is issued on behalf of the Independent Commission Against Corruption:
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will actively align with the 15th Five-Year Plan of the Country in combating corruption and fully co-operate with the Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan to continue advancing its anti-corruption work, charting new milestones for the Country and Hong Kong, according to its latest annual report.
Tabling the 2025 ICAC Annual Report at the Legislative Council today (July 8), Member of the Legislative Council and Member of the ICAC's Advisory Committee on Corruption the Hon Chan Yung, noted that last year, the Commission continued to adopt its "three-pronged" strategy in fighting corruption through law enforcement, prevention, and education, bringing fruitful results. The ICAC also actively promoted international co-operation, making significant contributions to the global anti-corruption cause.
Hong Kong's probity situation remained highly acclaimed by international ranking institutions. In the "Corruption Perceptions Index 2025" released by Transparency International, Hong Kong was ranked 12th out of 182 countries and territories, rose five places from the previous year to the second place in Asia.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption, Photo source: reference image
In the 2025 ICAC Annual Report, the ICAC Commissioner, Mr Woo Ying-ming, remarked that the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, which provided a top-level design and strategic blueprint for the Country's development over the next five years, will be of great significance and impact to Hong Kong. The ICAC will actively align with its anti-corruption work to promote a culture of probity and fully co-operate with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR) Government's five-year plan to ensure that Hong Kong aligns with national policies with integrity.
The ICAC Commissioner, Mr Woo Ying-ming, Photo by Bastille Post
"The ICAC will continue to combat corruption through robust law enforcement to safeguard Hong Kong's rule of law. With our anti-corruption mission as our driving force, the ICAC will actively align with the national development strategy and support the Chief Executive and the HKSAR Government in improving the executive-led system. The Commission will stand firm to advance its anti-corruption work, charting new milestones for the Country and Hong Kong," Mr Woo noted.
In 2025, the ICAC received a total of 1 780 non-election-related corruption complaints, representing a decrease of 14per cent compared to 2024. Public trust in the Commission remained strong, as approximately 70 per cent of the overall corruption complaints were non-anonymous. The ICAC Annual Survey published last year showed that 98.7per cent of respondents stated they had not come across corruption personally in the past year, consistent with the findings over the past decade.
In the public sector, the civil servants remained clean and honest. The ICAC completed 67 assignment studies for government departments and public bodies as part of a sustained effort to reduce corruption risks in public administration. The ICAC has been working closely with heads of departments to strengthen internal governance and improve overall effectiveness.
As for the private sector, the industries receiving the most corruption complaints remain a priority focus for the ICAC. Regarding the building management and maintenance subsector, the ICAC took the lead in hosting the first-ever Building Management Summit in Hong Kong in June 2025, aiming to gather all stakeholders, including relevant government departments and organisations, to jointly address these issues of public concern.
Following the Wang Fuk Court Fire in Tai Po, the public concerned more about issues relating to building management and maintenance, leading to an increase in corruption complaints. The ICAC has allocated additional resources to focus on handling these cases. The Commission will continue to co-operate closely with relevant government departments and regulatory bodies to combat corruption, bid-rigging, and other illegal activities in building renovation projects. It will also intervene early to alert flat owners to the risks of bid-rigging when contracts are awarded, thereby intercepting potential illegal activities and safeguarding the benefits of flat owners.
Regarding the finance and insurance subsectors, the ICAC has been advancing the "Banking Industry Integrity Charter" (BIIC). As of the end of 2025, all 165 licensed and restricted licence banks in Hong Kong had joined the BIIC. As for the construction subsector, the ICAC uncovered corruption and fraud in a private residential project in May 2025 and subsequently provided a series of corruption prevention recommendations to the Buildings Department.
On the integrity education and publicity front, the ICAC is committed to continuous innovation, creating an immersive anti-corruption education experience. Following the opening of the Café "1974", the ICAC Exhibition Hall was fully renovated, extensively incorporating technological elements to attract both the public and tourists.
In promoting international anti-corruption co-operation, the ICAC actively played the role of a "super connector" in recent years. Through a "going global and bringing in" dual strategy, the ICAC shared Hong Kong's anti-corruption experience with global partners, supporting the Country's strategy of building a "Clean Belt and Road". During the year, the ICAC signed Memoranda of Understanding with anti-corruption agencies of various "Belt and Road" countries, further expanding its networks in Europe and the Middle East under the initiative.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption, Photo source: reference image
Meanwhile, the ICAC continued to promote probity values and an integrity culture through the "Anti-Corruption Tripartite Partnership" forged among the Commission, the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) and the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption (HKIAAC), leveraging Hong Kong's advantages of "one country, two systems".
In October 2025, Mr Woo was invited for the first time as President of the IAACA to attend the Group of 20 Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting in South Africa. Mr Woo shared anti-corruption experiences while establishing strategic collaborations with anti-corruption counterparts.
The ICAC successfully transformed the HKIAAC into an international anti-corruption training platform. During the year, the HKIAAC organised 20 international training programmes, attracting about 1 800 participants from anti-corruption and related agencies around the world, effectively telling the good stories of Hong Kong's rule of law and anti-corruption journey. The HKIAAC also conducted 11 local professional training programmes, which were attended by over 800 senior managers and professionals from various sectors.
To foster international anti-corruption collaboration, the ICAC further deepened its co-operation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). For example, the ICAC is co-developing the Guide on Corruption Risk Management in Prison Systems with the UNODC, the ICAC also supported development of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities under the auspices of the UNODC, and jointly hosted the "Coding4Integrity Asian Youth Anti-Corruption Hackathon" with the UNODC and the IAACA.
Charting a new road ahead, Mr Woo noted that the anti-corruption journey is always marked by a series of tough battles. The ICAC will persistently innovate anti-corruption strategies, enhance professional competence, and embrace innovative technologies to improve work effectiveness and efficiency.
2025 ICAC Annual Report: www.icac.org.hk/icac/annual-report/2025/.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption, Photo source: reference image
