# Hong Kong, mainland China to start sharing data this year: tech minister Sun Dong > Source: > Published: 2026-06-30 23:00:10+00:00 # Hong Kong, mainland China to start sharing data this year: tech minister Sun Dong Minister also outlines plans to host chats between students and city’s first astronaut as early as start of new school term *As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead.* Hong Kong and mainland China are expected to begin sharing cross-border data within the year, when more companies will start operating in the Hetao innovation hub, the tech minister has revealed. [artificial intelligence (AI)](https://www.scmp.com/topics/artificial-intelligence?module=inline&pgtype=article)firms had already expressed interest in the data-sharing policy. The minister also outlined plans to roll out events as early as “the start of the new school term” so local students could talk to Lai Ka-ying, the city’s first astronaut, while she was in space. [Greater Bay Area](https://www.scmp.com/topics/greater-bay-area?module=inline&pgtype=article). The second half of the year offered a good window to activate relevant arrangements as more companies would begin operating in the Hong Kong section of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, located in the Lok Ma Chau Loop, he said.