Opening remarks by SITI at Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum 2026
Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum 2026 today (August 28):
Simon (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Simon Chan), Rocky (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Dr Rocky Cheng), Peter (Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, Mr Peter Yan),distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends from all over the world,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today at the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum (DELF) 2026. Under the theme "The Dreamatic Circus", this year's forum explores how agentic AI is transforming the creative industry - positioning AI not as a replacement for human imagination, but as a collaborative partner that helps deliver creators' dreams more boldly. This vision captures precisely where Hong Kong's innovation journey now stands: a city harnessing AI to amplify human craftsmanship.
Over the past year, the Government has transitioned from AI strategy formulation to active execution. Under the guiding principle of "strengthening infrastructure and promoting the application-oriented approach" in AI development, we are steering Hong Kong towards "industries for AI" and "AI for industries". To this end, the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy is established to empower industrial transformation through AI, with an initial focus on health technologies and embodied AI, extending to transportation, cultural and creative industries, and more. The Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute will also come into operation later this year to translate upstream research into real-world applications.
On governance, we have been taking a risk-based and flexible approach. The Ethical AI Framework promulgated by the Digital Policy Office sets out clear principles on fairness, transparency, human oversight and accountability in the use of AI. The framework is under constant review and will be suitably refined as technology evolves. We are driving AI adoption across public services to enhance efficiency, targeting AI tools to cover 100 public administration procedures this year, and 200 by the end of next year.
None of the above ambitions is possible without computing power. And here, Cyberport, which houses over 350 AI and data science startups, is an indispensable partner. Cyberport's AI Supercomputing Centre (AISC) commenced operations in December 2024 and has since scaled its capacity to 3 000 petaFLOPS now. Looking ahead, the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster under construction will further raise our capacity to 180 000 petaFLOPS or before by 2032, cementing our role as a computing hub for the Greater Bay Area and beyond.
AI is transforming the digital entertainment industry, turning imagination into unprecedented experience. And technology only serves its purpose when everyone can participate in it. That is why we launched the $50 million "AI for All" Inclusive Programme - Cyberport, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, and the Hong Kong Productivity Council will roll out awareness-raising programmes and practical training targeting at different sectors of the community to promote AI awareness and enhance professional skills as well as competitiveness through AI.
Ladies and gentlemen, DELF has always been about celebrating Hong Kong's creative spirit. This year it does so at a moment when AI is redefining what creativity can achieve. With robust computing infrastructure, a supportive policy environment, and a thriving creative community, Hong Kong is well-positioned to lead the AI+ era of digital entertainment. I wish DELF 2026 every success, and I look forward to the boundless creativity that will emerge under this "dreamatic" circus. Thank you.
Source: AI-found images
Opening remarks by SITI at Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Source: AI-found images
TD invites interested platform companies to apply for ride-hailing service licences
The Transport Department (TD) today (August 28) invited interested platform companies to apply for ride-hailing service licences. The application deadline is noon on October 30, 2026 (Friday).
Following the passage of the Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Services) Ordinance 2025 by the Legislative Council in October 2025, and the completion of the scrutiny of four pieces of related subsidiary legislation in mid-July 2026, most of the legal provisions under the ride-hailing services regulatory regime came into operation on August 3, 2026. The Government has been proactively carrying out a series of preparatory work to facilitate the launch of ride-hailing services, including inviting interested platform companies to apply for ride-hailing service licences.
A Government spokesman said, "Ride-hailing service is a brand new form of personalised point-to-point public transport services. Through the introduction of the ride-hailing services regulatory regime, the platforms, vehicles as well as drivers providing such services are required to obtain the relevant licences and permits, so as to offer the public more options of safe and compliant point-to-point transport service. To ensure that ride-hailing platforms have the operational capability to provide ride-hailing platform services, we will impose certain requirements in areas such as ride-hailing booking management technology, experience in operating ride-hailing platform services, proof of financial capability and capital investment."
Applicants for ride-hailing service licences must be companies registered in Hong Kong and must maintain a permanent establishment of executive personnel and an office in Hong Kong to facilitate the Government's regulation of the daily operations and service performance of ride-hailing platforms. To ensure that platforms have the capability to meet local ride-hailing demand, applicant companies must demonstrate their scale of operations, including lawful operation in a city with a population comparable to that of Hong Kong (i.e. 7.5 million or above), and having processed a daily average of 100 000 or more orders for ride-hailing passenger transport services in two cities where ride-hailing services are provided.
In addition, applicant companies must demonstrate their financial capability to support stable operation of their platforms in Hong Kong and the continued provision of proper and efficient services. The Government also requires applicant companies to provide audited financial reports for the past three years, with company paid-up capital of no less than HK$50 million, and to possess bank deposits of at least HK$30 million as well as a line of credit facilities of at least HK$30 million.
To safeguard passenger safety and maintain service quality, applicant companies must submit a service proposal setting out in detail their service plans, including corporate management; implementation of due diligence to ensure that vehicle owners and drivers comply with the owner-driver binding requirement; customer service; encouraging ride-hailing driving permit holders on their platforms to provide more ride-hailing trips; providing taxi ride-hailing services; and encouraging taxi drivers to register on their platforms to provide services.
The key entry requirements and licence conditions for ride-hailing service licences are set out in the Annex.
An assessment committee comprising representatives of the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Digital Policy Office and the TD will assess the applications and make recommendations to the Commissioner for Transport on whether to issue ride-hailing service licences to the applicant companies. If an applicant company's licence application is approved, the licence will be valid for a maximum period of five years, with an annual licence fee of HK$1.2 million.
The spokesman added, "To enable the Government to grasp and monitor the operation and compliance situation of each licensed platform, the TD is developing a ride-hailing vehicle data management system. The systems of platforms will in future be connected to the TD's data management system and provide operational data. The TD's ride-hailing data management system will be able to receive operational data in real time. Such data will help the Government to regulate ride-hailing services, master the actual operation of platforms, and conduct dynamic assessments of market development and changes in supply and demand for future policy reviews. In addition to monitoring the operation of platforms through mastering their operational information, the Government also attaches great importance to data security. According to statutory requirements, licensed platforms must, in the manner specified in the licence conditions, ensure that any data relating to services provided through the licensed platform is transmitted and stored securely. Without the consent of the data subjects concerned, platforms must not use such data for other purposes, or transmit such data to other persons or organisations."
Interested companies registered in Hong Kong may request for the invitation documents through the TD's website.
Applicants must complete and submit the form of application, service proposal and relevant supporting documents (one original and seven legible photocopies) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the invitation documents, along with a cashier's order of HK$16,250 as payment of the application fee, in a sealed envelope with "Application for Ride-hailing Service Licence 2026" clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. Applications must be delivered to the reception counter of the TD Headquarters on 10/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, before noon on October 30, 2026 (Friday). Late applications will not be accepted.
Source: AI-found images
