Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit today (April 13):
 
Honourable Minister Zhuang Rongwen of the Ministry of the Cyberspace Administration of PRC, Honourable Director Zhou Ji of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Honourable Secretary General Ren Xianliang of the World Internet Conference, honourable ministers and officials from around the world, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 
 
     Good morning. I am delighted to welcome you to the 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit. 
 
     It is an honour for Hong Kong to be hosting this prestigious event – and for the second consecutive year.
 
     This year's Summit gathers more than 1 000 high-profile participants from some 50 countries and regions. You're here to seek collaboration opportunities, to network with a world of like-minded professionals, and to come together on a cohesive digital strategy, given today's fast-evolving global digital landscape.
 
     The theme of this year's Summit, "Digital and Intelligent Empowerment for Innovative Development – Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace", underlines the essential value of digital collaboration on a global scale.
 
     The impressive turnout for this Summit is a testament to Hong Kong's unparalleled role under the unique "one country, two systems" framework.
 
     A premier international financial, shipping and trade centre, Hong Kong thrives thanks to our robust common law system, free flow of information, capital, goods and talent, and peerless connectivity both to the vast Mainland market and the wide world beyond. All under the auspices of "one country, two systems".
 
     Hosting this international Summit also underscores Hong Kong's growing prominence as an international innovation and technology hub. No less important, it reinforces our deep integration into national development strategies. The country's National 15th Five-Year Plan, approved last month, continues to champion Hong Kong's development as an international I&T hub, let me add. 
 
     That includes supporting the development of I&T in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Greater Bay Area is a cluster city development that brings together Hong Kong and Macao with nine southern cities, and brings together a population of over 87 million.
 
     A prime example of that is the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen‑Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, which officially opened in December. Straddling Hong Kong's boundary with the Mainland's technology hub of Shenzhen, the Co-operation Zone provides more than the much-needed land resources for I&T development. It presents vast opportunities for innovative synergy between the two places, and great potential for co-operation that radiates beyond boundaries.
 
     The Hong Kong Park of the Zone has already attracted more than 70 tenants from key technology sectors, including artificial intelligence and data science, life and health technology, and new energy. 
 
     We are also working with Mainland authorities on implementing facilitating policies at the Co-operation Zone. They include enabling the cross-boundary flow of bio-samples and other innovation elements. 
 
     Not surprisingly, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster topped the World Intellectual Property Organization's Global Innovation Index last year to become No.1 in the world. That's up one place from the year before.
 
     Complementing Hong Kong Park's development, we published a conceptual outline of our development plan for I&T in the San Tin Technopole last November.
 
     The Technopole and adjacent Hong Kong Park, both in our burgeoning Northern Metropolis, can provide land on a larger scale, to support the growth of strategic I&T industries. Together, San Tin Technopole and Hong Kong Park will form a crucial node for integrated development across upstream, midstream and downstream industries, offering full-chain support – from offices and prototyping to testing, pilot production and manufacturing – and working with the Greater Bay Area's industry supply chains.
 
     AI is central to the HKSAR Government's accelerating I&T development. Over the past few years, it has earned Hong Kong international recognition. 
 
     Hong Kong ranks among the world's leading economies in AI preparedness. That's according to last year's Technology and Innovation Report on Inclusive AI for Development, published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Meanwhile, Hong Kong came third in the Global AI Competitiveness Index, after only New York and London.
 
     And we are putting together a comprehensive strategy combining world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge research and development and a culture of responsible innovation. Boosting our computing power, a key driver of AI development, is a priority.
 
     Hong Kong's overall computing power rose to 5 000 petaFLOPS, following the launch of Cyberport's AI Supercomputing Centre in December 2024, which laid a vital foundation for pioneering AI research and applications. 
 
     And the upcoming data facility cluster at Sandy Ridge, also in the Northern Metropolis, will further expand Hong Kong's overall computing power. By 2032, this cluster alone will provide 180 000 petaFLOPS. That's 36 times Hong Kong's current computing power.
 
     As for R&D, our InnoHK Research Cluster focused on AI and robotics is funding 16 laboratories, together with over a thousand local and international researchers.
 
     There's more. The Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute's opening, later this year, will help drive breakthroughs from upstream AI R&D. It will also transform midstream and downstream R&D outcomes and expand use cases.
 
     We are no less committed to making AI accessible to all. Under the "AI+" and "AI for all" campaigns, all segments of society – companies, employees, the civil service, students and even our older population – will have better access to AI literacy programmes.
 
     Above all, Hong Kong recognises that the power of AI must be balanced by its responsible, and inclusive use. After all, technology is a tool to help us enable innovative new approaches to connectivity, trust and shared prosperity. A tool that could function well only with a spirit of co-operation and creativity.
 
     Hong Kong looks forward to working with partners around the region, and across the world, to help shape a digital future built on openness, innovation and inclusivity.
 
     My thanks to the World Internet Conference for hosting this year's Asia-Pacific Summit, and for your staunch support and trust in Hong Kong to put it together for the global internet community. 
 
     I wish everyone a productive and rewarding Summit, and an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong, Asia's world city. And the region's fast-rising innovation city. 
 
     Thank you.

Ends/Monday, April 13, 2026
Issued at HKT 10:28

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