Hong Kong has established a committee to support the industrial application of artificial intelligence, with its first meeting due to be held this month, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday.
The Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy was first announced by Chan in his 2026-27 Budget in February this year. It’ll map out strategies and create a favorable environment for AI-driven industrial transformation and growth. Members include experts, academics and representatives of chambers of commerce, enterprises and technology parks.
Writing in his weekly blog, the finance chief said, initially, the body will focus on health technologies and embodied AI, and explore AI applications in sectors like transportation, cultural and creative industries, and sustainable development.
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The move comes as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region steps up efforts to develop AI in such areas as computing power, basic research, talent cultivation and real-world deployment. Construction of the Sandy Ridge for Data Facility Cluster has begun and is expected to provide 180,000 petaflops of computing power by 2032 — about 36 times the city’s current capacity.
These are supply-side initiatives, Chan said. “Equally important is stimulating demand — how AI is used, who uses it and whether it’s used effectively. In technology, the use case defines the market, and application determines its value.”
The HKSAR government will allocate HK$300 million ($38.3 million) to expand the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Program, helping small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt AI and cybersecurity solutions, including tools to forecast consumption trends and optimize marketing.
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An additional HK$50 million is also earmarked for the “AI Training for All” initiative. Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and the Hong Kong Productivity Council are working with technology firms, universities and industry groups to organize courses, seminars and competitions.
More than 200 events are expected to be hosted over these two years, with an estimated 50,000 participants. Educational and promotional programs will also be launched for a wider audience, such as students and the elderly.
“The AI era will test society’s overall readiness for technological innovation,” Chan said.
A Chinese mainland embodied AI company will soon open its first fully-autonomous robot retail store outside the mainland at the Hung Hom harborfront, according to Chan. A robot manager will be deployed to provide round-the-clock, multilingual services to customers.
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These projects reflect an accelerating trend that AI is entering everyday life in more tangible forms, Chan said.
“With international investors showing strong interest in the country’s strengths in emerging and future industries, Hong Kong, as a global fundraising hub, has become increasingly attractive to startups and technology firms,” he added.
