LEAP East 2026 Launches in Hong Kong, Showcasing Global Innovation and Technology Collaboration between Middle East and Hong Kong

LEAP East 2026 opens to deepen I&T co-operation between Middle East and Hong Kong

LEAP East 2026 officially opened today (July 8) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended the opening ceremony alongside Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Alswaha, to welcome more than 35 000 participants in the conference, including 340 speakers and 450 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions.

In his remarks, Mr Chan welcomed the inaugural LEAP East to Hong Kong, marking the first LEAP conference held outside Saudi Arabia. He said the event underscored the deepening partnership between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, and highlighted Hong Kong's role as a unique gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland with the world. He is pleased to note that LEAP East will continue to be held in Hong Kong for the next three years.

Mr Chan outlined Hong Kong's strengths as an ideal base for innovation, including its common law system, strong intellectual property protection, free flow of capital, goods, talent and data, simple and low tax regime, and safe and stable business environment.

He set out three key strategies underpinning Hong Kong's innovation development: leveraging "Finance+" through vibrant capital markets, venture capital and private equity, and government investment support; advancing "AI+" by developing artificial intelligence as a strategic industry and applying it across sectors; and integrating technology, talent, education and industry through the Northern Metropolis and deeper collaboration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Mr Chan also invited Saudi and Gulf enterprises to use Hong Kong as an international fundraising and risk-management platform, and expressed HKSAR's commitment to further strengthening co-operation with Saudi Arabia in innovation, infrastructure, green technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and professional services. Mr Chan remarked that he plans to lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia again later this year, bringing leading companies in infrastructure, green tech, healthcare and advanced manufacturing, plus professionals in the finance, investment and professional services sector, to explore concrete projects and further partnership.

The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB) is the Hong Kong Government Partner of LEAP East 2026. Professor Sun in his speech thanked Saudi Arabia for extending the technology conference to Hong Kong, recalling his 2024 visit to Riyadh that sparked I&T collaboration.

Professor Sun mentioned that Hong Kong is building a comprehensive I&T ecosystem with strategic focuses on life and health technologies, artificial intelligence and robotics, as well as advanced manufacturing and energy. He highlighted the city's strong R&D capabilities, for instance, the flagship InnoHK platform's 38 laboratories are in collaboration with over 30 top-notch research institutions from around the world. He also cited rapid digital infrastructure development, including the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster, which is set to provide 180,000 PFLOPS of computing power by 2032 — a 36fold increase from the current level that will position Hong Kong as an international data hub. To accelerate R&D commercialisation and new industrialisation, the Government has committed over USD3.8 billion through three HK$10 billion funding schemes.

Professor Sun highlighted Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" for international exchanges. Emphasising Hong Kong's unparalleled advantages of strong support from the Motherland while remaining closely connected to the world under "one country, two systems," he positioned the city as an ideal gateway for both Mainland enterprises going global and Saudi and Middle Eastern firms accessing Chinese and other Asian markets, reaffirming Hong Kong's readiness to partner globally for a sustainable, innovative future.

After the opening ceremony, Mr Chan and Professor Sun toured the LEAP East's exhibition and visited the Hong Kong Pavilion. Professor Sun also met with Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Alswaha, to exchange views on I&T collaborations between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

The three-day LEAP East 2026 will be held from July 8 to 10, featuring a diverse range of technological fields including artificial intelligence, deep tech, smart cities, and new energy industries. The event aims to build an integrated ecosystem for investors and startups and to promote cross-border industrial collaboration. The ITIB set up the Hong Kong Pavilion to showcase the I&T development and achievements of Hong Kong.

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (third left), today (July 8) met with the Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, Mr Abdullah Alswaha (second right), to exchange views on innovation and technology collaborations between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (fourth left), today (July 8) met with the Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, Mr Abdullah Alswaha (fourth right), to exchange views on innovation and technology collaborations between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, delivers a speech at the LEAP East 2026 opening ceremony today (July 8). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the LEAP East 2026 opening ceremony today (July 8). Photo shows guests participated in the opening ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the LEAP East 2026 opening ceremony today (July 8). Photos shows Mr Chan (second left) touring an exhibition booth. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the LEAP East 2026 opening ceremony today (July 8). Photo shows (from front row first left) the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, Mr Abdullah Alswaha; Mr Chan and other guests touring an exhibition booth. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the LEAP East 2026 opening ceremony today (July 8). Photo shows (from left) the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; Mr Chan; and the Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, Mr Abdullah Alswaha, at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the LEAP East 2026 opening ceremony today (July 8). Photos shows (from fifth right) Mr Chan; the Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, Mr Abdullah Alswaha; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, and other guests at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, speaks at the LEAP East 2026 opening ceremony today (July 8). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Latest progress on suspected leakage of leachate from WENT Landfill

Regarding the suspected leakage of leachate from West New Territories (WENT) Landfill that occurred yesterday (July 8), a spokesperson for theEnvironmental Protection Department (EPD)provided the following details on the latest progress of the follow-up work:

The landfill contractor confirmed the source of the leakage last night and immediately commenced containment of the leakage at the source, remediation and overnight monitoring. Following urgent interception, the leakage of leachate through a stormwater outfall to Tai Shui Hang stopped last night, and no abnormalities were observed at the stormwater outfall and in nearby water bodies. Affected by the heavy rain early this morning, a small amount of leachate was spotted at the source location, which was a temporary condition during maintenance work. The contractor then immediately strengthened the pumping and interception measures. No leachate flowed into the downstream stormwater outfall or Tai Shui Hang, and the situation remains under control.

After on-site investigation, the incident is believed to have caused by a blockage in sub-soil leachate trench beneath the landfill's operational area, coupled with persistent heavy rain yesterday afternoon. This resulted in leachate flowing together with rainwater into the stormwater drains along the landfill haul roads, and subsequently to Tai Shui Hang. The contractor completed the source remediation work this morning, which included intercepting the leak and continuing to remove any remaining leachate. At the same time, further preventive and cleanup measures have been implemented, including removing stagnant water from the drainage channels and installing additional silt curtain in Tai Shui Hang to enhance containment. The contractor will continue to thoroughly clean the affected stormwater outfall to remove any traces of leachate remaining on the inner walls of the outfall.

The EPD further confirmed that no new leakage was found on-site during an investigation this morning, while tankers remain on standby at the scene as a precautionary measure. Based on on-site observations and the performance of the silt curtains, the EPD assessed that the amount of leachate leaked into Tai Shui Hang yesterday was limited. Given that the rainy season has begun, the EPD has demanded that the contractor strengthen the inspection and maintenance of the sub-soil leachate trenches and the drainage system to minimise the risk of similar incidents occurring during periods of intense rain.

In addition, the EPD continued today to collect water samples from Tai Shui Hang and the Deep Bay to monitor any changes in water quality. Preliminary analysis revealed that pH and the dissolved oxygen levels in the water samples are within the normal ranges,without signs of significant change in water quality. No fish deaths were found at the scene, and there were no signs of any significant ecological impact nearby. The EPD will continue to closely monitor the water quality in Tai Shui Hang and the Deep Bay.

Source: AI-found images