Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-level Roundtable on Data for Growth in Chengdu today (July 25):

Good morning, chair (Chair of the 2026 APEC Digital Weeks High-level Roundtable on Data for Growth, Administrator of the National Data Administration of China, Mr Liu Liehong) and distinguished fellow colleagues.

     Data is often described as the "new oil", a powerful resource defining innovation, productivity and inclusive growth. Yet, data only creates value when it is governed responsibly, shared securely and applied wisely. Hong Kong, China (HKC), adopts a balanced approach between openness and governance to keep us at the global forefront in driving high-quality development while safeguarding public confidence.

     Now in HKC, more than 5 700 datasets are accessible to the public free of charge to facilitate innovative solutions, business applications and academic research. The scale of adoption is remarkable, with annual data downloads surging from 5 billion in 2019 to over 85 billion in 2025.

     We have also established the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure, a one-stop platform hosting a rich repository of standardised geospatial data. These datasets include high-quality territory-wide 3D digital maps covering more than 120 000 buildings and comprehensive 3D pedestrian network. This robust digital infrastructure supports urban planning, city management, smart infrastructure and emerging sectors such as the low-altitude economy and eco-tourism.

     Secure and consent-based data sharing is equally vital. Our Consented Data Exchange Gateway (CDEG) securely connects government systems with the financial sector, enabling banks, upon explicit customer authorisation, to access government registries for streamlined account opening, fraud detection and property valuation. CDEG now covers all government departments, facilitating lawful personal data reuse with user consent. To date, CDEG has processed over 40 million secure exchanges.

     Looking ahead, we will launch the Digital Corporate Identity (CorpID) Platform this year, enabling secure, efficient, and consensual corporate data exchange among government departments and corporations. It also allows us to explore interface with other corporate identity platforms, paving the way for potential cross-border identity authentication and data interoperability.

     Unlocking data's full value requires strong computing infrastructure. HKC's current computing power stands at a strong 5 000 PFLOPS (peta-floating point operations per second), and the upcoming Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster is set to deliver an additional 180 000 PFLOPS in the next few years, rendering critical support for the growth of data-driven industries and reinforcing HKC's role as a leading regional digital infrastructure hub.

     As we stand at this pivotal moment, we look forward to deepening collaboration, exchanging insights and sharing visions with our APEC colleagues in harnessing data as a driving force for innovation, productivity, inclusive growth and shared prosperity. Thank you.

Ends/Saturday, July 25, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:48

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