In the age of AI, Hong Kong’s strategy as a ‘superconnector’ is progressing

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee outlined the city's strategy to become a superconnector in the age of AI at the SCMP China Conference, emphasizing AI as a central plank in its first five-year blueprint. The plan aims to guide high-quality economic development, strengthen Hong Kong's role as an international innovation and technology center, and leverage its position as a bridge to the Greater Bay Area.

Advertisement Editorial In the age of AI, Hong Kong’s strategy as a ‘superconnector’ is progressing At SCMP’s China Conference, Chief Executive John Lee and panellists made clear the city’s potential as an innovation centre, building on its traditional strengths 2-MIN READ2-MIN Listen Editorials represent the views of the South China Morning Post on the issues of the day. Hong Kong’s strategy as a “superconnector” in the age of artificial intelligence unfolded further on Tuesday before an audience of hundreds of senior policymakers, business executives, academics, investors and innovators at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the city’s high-quality economic development would be guided by its first five-year blueprint, in tandem with the nation’s 15th five-year plan, and by his coming policy address, with AI as “a central plank” https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3359667/ai-central-plank-hong-kongs-economic-development-john-lee-says?module=inline&pgtype=article .The government has launched a public consultation https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3357121/government-aims-publish-hong-kongs-first-5-year-plan-third-quarter-minister?module=inline&pgtype=article on its five-year plan, which will project the city’s vision for the Northern Metropolis, the advancement of innovation and technology, and the development of finance, shipping and trade. Along with the final policy address https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3358291/john-lee-begin-public-consultation-terms-final-policy-address-monday?module=inline&pgtype=article of his five-year term, Lee said the plan would “guide our high-quality economic progress and improve the livelihood of the people”. An area of importance was the further development of Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology centre. “In that development, artificial intelligence is a central plank,” Lee added.Separately, Lee made major announcements https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3359651/hong-kongs-gold-clearing-and-settlement-firm-joins-shanghai-exchange?module=inline&pgtype=article on gold and yuan trading at the Hong Kong FIC & Bond Connect Summit. These policy changes further entrench Hong Kong’s status as an international finance centre and a bridge for the mainland and its businesses. This was also a key theme at the China Conference.Lee set the tone for panellists at the China Conference who highlighted the potential for Hong Kong to leverage its role as a superconnector to the Greater Bay Area https://www.scmp.com/topics/greater-bay-area?module=inline&pgtype=article , which links Hong Kong, Macau and nine southern China cities in an economic powerhouse.Top RISC-V scientist and an advocate of international collaboration, Dr Qi Xiaoning, vice-president of Alibaba Group Holding which owns the SCMP, said collaboration was already happening in the RISC-V industry. RISC-V https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3347614/why-hong-kong-betting-risc-v-build-global-open-source-chip-hub?module=inline&pgtype=article is an open-standard instruction set architecture ISA that China’s chip designers have embraced. Qi believes that with an open market, and sound financial and legal certainty, Hong Kong can attract global talent.Advertisement Select Voice Select Speed 1.00x