Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Government-Enterprise Dialogue of World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit today (April 14):

Secretary General Mr Ren Xianliang (the Secretary General of the World Internet Conference), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning! It is my great pleasure to co-host this Government-Enterprise Dialogue at the Ministerial meeting. Welcome to Hong Kong! 歡迎來到香港! To all first-timers in Hong Kong, I wish you ample time to explore the many wonderful experiences that Hong Kong has in store for you.

     Nowadays, we are facing increased global economic uncertainties and escalation of trade conflicts, apart from rising geo-political tensions. Yet, amidst these challenges, opportunities abound for economies and businesses that are willing to embrace innovation and technology (I&T) as a catalyst for growth.

     Among the various facets of I&T ecosystem, artificial intelligence (AI) stands out as one of the most prominent and impactful dimensions, shaping lives across the globe. AI is no longer a futuristic concept. It is at the core of developing new quality productive forces. The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government implemented a series of initiatives to support the development of AI and perfect the local I&T ecosystem, with a view to developing AI as our core tech industry to inject new impetus to the city's high-quality development. I believe that there will be a lot of valuable discussions and exchanges on AI throughout this Summit. 

     We fully recognise the importance of a close and effective partnership among government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors in driving innovation and digital transformation. To this end, we have introduced various funding schemes, such as the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme to accelerate the transformation of outstanding R&D (research and development) outcomes from universities, and the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme to support the set-up of smart production facilities in Hong Kong. We will soon launch another new I&T Industry-Oriented Fund to help channel more market capital to invest in specified emerging and future industries of strategic importance. The total financial commitment of $30 billion Hong Kong dollars the three funding schemes alone demonstrates our strong commitment to promoting the development of the I&T industry and close collaboration of stakeholders in Hong Kong.

     For enterprises, going global requires more than ambition. It requires a reliable springboard to go far and reach high. Under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong enjoys the unparalleled advantage of receiving strong support from national strategies while maintaining its global connections. Hong Kong serves as an excellent launchpad for businesses and is always ready to offer all that – from global capital and talent, world-class professional services to extensive international connections. We have been actively attracting tech enterprises of strategic importance, including life and health technology, AI and robotics, as well as new energy and advanced manufacturing industries, to set foot in Hong Kong. So far, we have successfully negotiated with more than 130 tech enterprises to set up business or expand their presence in Hong Kong. The remarkable progress is the best testimony to Hong Kong's I&T strength, potential and opportunities.

     In today's complex global landscape, brimming with challenges and uncertainties, it is an opportune time to foster mutual trust through strengthened connections, strategic partnerships and enhanced collaboration. It is this spirit making this today's dialogue a critical platform for global collaboration, collective progress and shared success. Let us seize this moment, turn our words and ideas into action, and build a future driven by innovation, resilience, mutual trust and global connectivity.

     Before I close, allow me to express my sincere appreciation to the World Internet Conference for co-hosting this exceptional platform for the exchange of ideas and information. I look forward to the insightful perspectives our guests will share next. Thank you.

Ends/Monday, April 14, 2025
Issued at HKT 14:15

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