The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, today (October 30) attended the 36th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting in Gyeongju, Korea.

     The theme for APEC this year is "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow". At a discussion session entitled "Innovate and Prosper", Mr Yau shared with other ministers Hong Kong's efforts to promote digitalisation for the prosperity of people and future generations.

     Mr Yau said that the rapid development of digital technologies, particularly AI, is fundamentally changing societies at an unprecedented pace. To fully harness the benefits and smoothen the transformation process, Hong Kong strongly supports deepening APEC's digital co-operation to foster economic growth and address common challenges.

     He highlighted the importance of strengthening infrastructure and adopting an application-oriented approach to promote deep integration of AI across the economy. To this end, Hong Kong has been taking concrete actions, such as developing an additional high-performing data facility cluster to provide advanced computing power for innovation, promoting AI adoption by accelerating the digital transformation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and upgrading Hong Kong's trade architecture with AI.

     Mr Yau added that with a people-centred approach, Hong Kong is tackling key challenges such as digital divides and job displacement that are impeding an inclusive digital transition. Apart from incorporating AI literacy into schools' core curriculums and enhancing teacher training, Hong Kong is also reforming retraining programmes and strengthening re-employment support for the current workforce.

     Speaking at another session entitled "Connect", Mr Yau stressed that in navigating the increasingly complex landscape, the multilateral trading system underpinned by the World Trade Organization (WTO) continues to play a pivotal role.

     "The WTO, with its core principles of non-discrimination and co-operation as well as various critical roles and functions, has led world trade to flourish for decades. In these unprecedented and challenging times, we believe that an open, stable, transparent, inclusive and predictable rules-based international trading environment is more crucial than ever, particularly for less developed economies, enabling them not just to survive but also to thrive on emerging opportunities," he stressed.

     Mr Yau said that APEC itself has also been active in addressing issues that affect the region, such as enhancing the resilience of supply chains against shocks and threats. Being an externally oriented economy, seamless and effective supply chains are essential to Hong Kong.

     He added that Hong Kong has leveraged technological innovations in this context, such as the application of AI to facilitate customs enforcement, cargo clearance and matching for airline partnerships. Hong Kong is also actively building connectivity on trade single window with key trading partners such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

     On the sidelines of the meeting, Mr Yau separately met with the Vice Minister and Deputy China International Trade Representative of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Ling Ji; the Deputy Minister for Trade of Korea, Mr Park Jong-won; the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, Ms Teresa Stella Mera Gómez; the Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand, Mr Todd McClay; and the Minister of Trade of Indonesia, Mr Budi Santoso, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

     Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (October 31).

Ends/Thursday, October 30, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:00

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