SITI: Hong Kong's Efforts to Promote AI and Digital Innovations for Community Empowerment at the APEC Digital Weeks High-level Dialogue

Speech by SITI at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Digital Weeks High-level Dialogue: Leveraging Digital and AI Technologies to Empower Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Community, in Chengdu

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital Weeks High-level Dialogue: Leveraging Digital and AI Technologies to Empower the APEC Community, in Chengdu, today (July 24):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is my honour to join this high-level dialogue today. Digital and AI technologies are advancing rapidly worldwide. Hong Kong, China (HKC) actively leverages these innovations to empower the community and enhance the well-being of our people.

In the public sector, we remain firmly committed to enhancing the efficiency of governance and delivery of public services through emerging technologies. Our Smart Government Innovation Lab serves as a vital platform connecting government departmental needs with innovative solutions from the industry, with a view to driving innovation and technology (I&T) adoption across the Government. We have also launched the AI Solution Catalogue and the AI Toolbox, which feature a wide range of AI solutions and tools that facilitate customer service, data analysis and prediction, and document drafting, thereby encouraging the wider use of AI technologies and tools across the Government.

At the community level, we are also mindful that the benefits brought about by technological advancements should trickle down to the general public. We have in place "iAM Smart", a one-stop digital services platform that consolidates more than 1 400 online public and private services on one single portal. Citizens may have access to digital services, ranging from renewal of driving licenses to making appointments at public hospitals to filing tax returns, through one single platform, which greatly enhances convenience and efficiency.

We are also extending this digital convenience to businesses through the upcoming Digital Corporate Identity or CorpID Platform, a business version of "iAM Smart". This platform will equip corporations with a secure digital identity and essential features such as corporate identity authentication, digital signing and form pre-filling. With CorpID, corporations will be able to access both government-to-business and business-to-business eservices easily, boosting operational and administrative efficiency.

Furthermore, an AI Assistant will be introduced on both the "iAM Smart" and CorpID platforms within this year. The AI Assistant is expected to enhance user experience by providing instant responses to enquiries and personalised services to users. For corporations seeking business upgrade and technological enhancement, the assistant will recommend information and services related to government funding schemes, industry support programmes and other public resources. These services are most crucial to small and medium enterprises and will significantly accelerate their digital transformation journey.

We have not forgotten the challenges digitalisation causes to the elderly. To this end, our "Smart Silver" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders partners with non-profit-making organisations to help our seniors embrace digital life. We hope that our senior citizens may also enjoy the convenience and ease of the digital age.

The ultimate value of innovation lies in its ability to bring positive impacts to our society. Let us remain steadfast in empowering and harnessing technological advancement for the good of our people, while ensuring that technology powers a better future for the entire community. Thank you.

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, speaks at the High-level Dialogue: Leveraging Digital and AI Technologies to Empower the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Community, in Chengdu, today (July 24). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by SITI at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Digital Weeks High-level Dialogue: Leveraging Digital and AI Technologies to Empower Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Community, in Chengdu Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by SITI at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Digital Weeks High-level Dialogue: Leveraging Digital and AI Technologies to Empower Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Community, in Chengdu Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs successfully prosecutes three retailers for supplying goods short by weight in course of business

The sole director of a roasted food shop and his limited company, a seafood shop proprietor and a vegetable shop salesperson were convicted with a criminal record and fined between $1,800 and $4,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts and the Eastern Magistrates' Courts respectively today (July 24) for supplying goods short by weight in the course of business, in contravention of the Weights and Measures Ordinance (WMO). Furthermore, the sole director of the roasted food shop and his limited company were also convicted of engaging in a commercial practice that was a misleading omission, contrary to the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

Customs earlier received public complaints alleging that the retailers involved were suspected of short-weighing. Subsequently, Customs officers posed as customers and conducted test-purchase operations at the alleged shops. It was discovered that the actual weights of the goods sold were less than the declared weights. Upon re-examination by the Government Laboratory, it was found that the actual weight of the goods involved was less than the declared weight with discrepancies ranging from 7 per cent to 48 per cent. Apart from contravening the WMO, the sole director of the roasted food shop also misled customers about the unit of measurement in the course of business, violating the TDO.

Hong Kong Customs welcomes the courts' rulings and believes that they have provided clear and explicit warnings to unscrupulous traders in the industry.

Customs reminds members of the public to purchase products from reputable shops, and when purchasing goods supplied by weight, to pay attention to the weighting process and the actual weight of the goods. Customs also reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the WMO and the TDO.

Under the WMO, any person supplying goods by weight or measure must supply the net weight or net measure, and if the actual weight or measure of the goods is less than the declared quantity, it constitutes an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $10,000. In addition, any person who uses for trade, or has in his possession for use for trade, any weighing or measuring equipment which is false or defective commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $25,000.

Under the TDO, any trader who engages in a commercial practice that omits or hides material information or provides material information in a manner that is unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely, and as a result causes, or is likely to cause, an average consumer to make a transactional decision, commits an offence of misleading omissions. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Customs reminds traders that the above offences will lead to a criminal record upon conviction. Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against unscrupulous traders in order to safeguard consumers' interests and uphold a fair trading environment.

Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the Ordinances by calling the Customs 24-hour hotline at 182 8080, or via the dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs, Photo source: reference image