SITI Attends WAIC 2026, Highlighting Hong Kong's AI Development

SITI attends 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC 2026) and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai today (July 17), and delivered a speech at the Seminar on Fostering Economic Innovation and Global Collaboration through AI.

President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the WAIC 2026 and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in the morning and delivered a keynote speech, saying that the world has entered an unprecedented period of active innovation on AI technologies. All countries should take a people-centered approach and develop AI for the positive and for good and that AI is an important driver for shared prosperity and common security. Professor Sun also attended the opening ceremony.

The country attaches great importance to AI development, and the National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly states the need to "deepen the construction of the Digital China Initiative and enhance the level of digital and intelligent development". With the country's planning and support, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is accelerating its efforts to build Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre in full swing, constructing a comprehensive, reliable, international and sustainable AI ecosystem, as well as proactively integrating into the national "AI+" initiative.

In the afternoon, Professor Sun attended the Seminar on Fostering Economic Innovation and Global Collaboration through AI organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. In his opening speech, he said that the HKSAR Government has elevated AI to a core industry for Hong Kong and established the principle of "industries for AI and AI for industries". Leveraging the robust research and development (R&D) capabilities of Hong Kong's universities, Hong Kong is currently building an internationally competitive I&T ecosystem with "three major I&T parks and five key R&D institutions" as the backbone. The three major parks have gathered over a thousand AI-related enterprises and start-ups, forming a vibrant cluster. Also, the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research Institute is soon to be launched, and 16 laboratories focusing on AI and robotics under the InnoHK platform have brought together nearly 1 200 top global R&D talents to drive research breakthroughs and global I&T collaboration.

Professor Sun said that Hong Kong's overall computing power has currently reached 5 000 PFLOPS. The construction of the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster is at full speed, which is expected to provide 180 000 PFLOPS of computing power upon completion, equivalent to 36 times Hong Kong's current computing power. The Cluster, together with the Hong Kong Park in the Loop and the San Tin Technopole, constitutes the new development pattern of "I&T in the north" to seize opportunities and room for AI R&D, industrialisation and cross-boundary collaboration. It will also achieve highly efficient complementarity with the industrial chains and computing clusters of various provinces and municipalities in the Mainland, thereby promoting Hong Kong to become an advanced data and computing hub in the region, and contributing Hong Kong's power to the development of Digital China.

Professor Sun pointed out that the HKSAR Government is promoting AI development on all fronts, from policy governance to fund allocation, adding that the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy has been established to formulate strategies for AI-driven industrial transformation. The Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund will be launched within this year to channel market capital to invest in emerging and future industries including AI, digitalisation, and upgrading and transformation. The HKSAR Government will continue to promote the safe and orderly cross-boundary flow of data in a pragmatic and robust manner, and establish an AI governance framework to strike a balance among innovation, application, and responsibility, ensuring its safe and reliable development.

Afterwards, Professor Sun visited the Hong Kong Pavilion at the WAIC 2026. The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Cyberport and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park organised a total of 18 Hong Kong start-ups focusing on areas including smart city and infrastructure, robotics and automation to participate in the exhibition. The Hong Kong Productivity Council has also set up a thematic exhibition area. Professor Sun met with the participating enterprises to understand the latest development outcomes of the industry.

Professor Sun also met with Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government Mr Zhu Min. He stated that the HKSAR Government has been proactively aligning with the 15th Five-Year Plan and is pressing ahead to formulate Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan, in which I&T will be a key segment. As I&T is a core development area for both Shanghai and Hong Kong, both governments are ramping up support across multiple dimensions such as policy, resources and industries. He expected that I&T co-operation between the two places can be further strengthened in the future.

Professor Sun will conclude the duty visit and return to Hong Kong in the afternoon tomorrow (July 18).

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (sixth left), attends the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai today (July 17), and meets with the participating enterprises to understand the latest development outcomes of the industry. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai today (July 17), and visited the Hong Kong Pavilion. Photo shows Professor Sun (second row, eighth left) with representatives of participating enterprises. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (second left), visits the Hong Kong Pavilion set up at the 2026 World AI Conference in Shanghai and meets with a representative of a participating enterprise today (July 17). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (centre), visits the Hong Kong Pavilion set up at the 2026 World AI Conference in Shanghai and meets with a representative of a participating enterprise today (July 17). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (left), visits the Hong Kong Pavilion set up at the 2026 World AI Conference in Shanghai and meets with a representative of a participating enterprise today (July 17). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (second right), attends the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai today (July 17), and meets with the participating enterprises to understand the latest development outcomes of the industry. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attends the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai today (July 17). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai today (July 17), and spoke at the Seminar on Fostering Economic Innovation and Global Collaboration through AI organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council today (July 17). Photo shows Professor Sun (fifth left) and Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Mr Zhu Min (sixth left), and other guests at the seminar. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, delivers a speech at the 2026 World AI Conference - Seminar on Fostering Economic Innovation and Global Collaboration through AI in Shanghai today (July 17). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by PSITI at Second Global Innovation Show and Global Innovation Summit - Hong Kong

Following is the speech by the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Kevin Choi, at the Second Global Innovation Show and Global Innovation Summit - Hong Kong today (August 25):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today at the 2nd Global Innovation Show and Global Innovation Summit (GIS) - Hong Kong. I would like to thank the organisers for bringing together innovation leaders, industry experts and entrepreneurs from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and around the world to exchange insights and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

Based in Hong Kong, drawing upon the strengths of our country and engaging with the world, GIS brings together innovation resources from different places and strengthens connections among the cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). By bringing together the respective strengths of different places in technology, capital and markets, GIS provides a valuable platform for technological innovation and industry collaboration. This aligns well with Hong Kong's role as a bridge connecting the Chinese Mainland and the world, and our development into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre.

This year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan period. The Plan reaffirms support for Hong Kong's development into an international I&T centre, while placing strong emphasis on technological innovation, industrial innovation and the development of new quality productive forces. Against this backdrop, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is pressing ahead with new industrialisation, fostering strategic emerging and future industries while supporting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries. Our strategic focus includes life and health technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy. By promoting the integration of technological and industrial innovation, we seek to accelerate the commercialisation of research and development (R&D) outcomes and develop new engines for Hong Kong's high-quality economic growth.

Our efforts are bearing fruit. Manufacturing and new industrialisation-related industries accounted for 3.8 per cent of Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This reflects that the Government's new industrialisation initiatives are playing an increasingly important and positive role in promoting economic diversification and enhancing Hong Kong's overall competitiveness. We are also formulating Hong Kong's medium to long-term development plan of new industrialisation, taking into account the National 15th Five-Year Plan, opportunities for industrial synergy in the GBA, as well as Hong Kong's own industrial foundation and advantages.

To provide fertile soil for our I&T development, we are building a comprehensive I&T ecosystem anchored by three major I&T Parks and five key R&D institutions. In particular, the Loop Hong Kong Park is an important platform for I&T collaboration in the GBA and is envisioned to develop into a world-class innovation platform connecting international companies with the Chinese Mainland. As at July 2026, the Loop Hong Kong Park has already attracted over 100 technology enterprises and institutions to sign tenancy agreements, with its first two completed wet laboratory buildings leasing all available floor area. The adjacent San Tin Technopole will serve as a natural extension of the Loop Hong Kong Park, providing a large piece of land that can help accelerate the commercialisation of R&D results by providing industrial space for prototyping, pilot and mass production.

We are also providing targeted support to accelerate technology commercialisation and industrial development. The $10 billion New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme provides matching funds for enterprises in designated industries to set up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong, while the $10 billion Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund channels market capital to invest in emerging and future industries of strategic importance. Earlier this year, we also launched the New Industrialisation Elite Enterprises Nurturing Scheme, focusing on supporting high-growth enterprises that contribute to the development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong, with the goal of nurturing emerging and future industry enterprises.

At the same time, we are deepening I&T and industrial collaboration within the GBA. Under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is proactively integrating into and serving the overall national development, while giving full play to our unique strengths as an international city. By leveraging Hong Kong's strengths in R&D and international connectivity, we can foster deeper integration of technological and industrial innovation and create greater opportunities for enterprises across the region. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster ranked first globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025, demonstrating the strong innovation capabilities of the GBA.

We are continuing to deepen this collaboration. In September 2024, the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) signed the Co-operation Agreement on the Development of New Quality Productive Forces and the Promotion of New Industrialisation, supporting Hong Kong in developing new quality productive forces and promoting new industrialisation according to local conditions, while strengthening exchanges and promoting co-operation in industries where both sides have clear advantages.

Building on this foundation, our co-operation took another important step forward last month, when the HKSAR Government and MIIT signed the Co-operation Agreement on Advancing the Joint Establishment of Manufacturing Innovation Centre by the Ministry and Hong Kong. As announced in this year's Budget, it has been proposed to reserve funding to establish in Hong Kong the first national manufacturing innovation centre. Focusing on next-generation power semiconductor technologies, the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute will undertake the important task of taking the lead to operate the innovation centre.

For enterprises, these developments open up new opportunities to leverage the complementary strengths of Hong Kong and the GBA. Hong Kong can serve as a "super connector" and "super value-adder", helping Chinese Mainland enterprises connect with international innovation resources while providing overseas enterprises with a gateway to the GBA and the broader Chinese Mainland market. In this way, we can better leverage Hong Kong's strengths to serve our country's needs, while creating new room for development for enterprises in Hong Kong and beyond.

Looking ahead, the HKSAR Government will continue to strengthen our I&T ecosystem, advance new industrialisation and deepen synergy with our partners in the GBA. We welcome I&T enterprises and innovation partners from the Chinese Mainland and around the world to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages, tap into the opportunities of the GBA and grow with our expanding I&T ecosystem.

By working together and leveraging our complementary strengths, we can contribute to developing the GBA into an international I&T hub with global influence and create new momentum for high-quality development. I wish GIS every success and all of you a rewarding and fruitful exchange. Thank you very much.

Source: AI-found images