21st meeting of Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation and related events held in Guangzhou (with photos)
******************************************************************************************
The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, and the Chief Economist of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province (GDDIIT), Mr Zou Yongbing, reviewed the work progress and achievements of the Expert Group over the past year. They discussed and exchanged views on the work plan for the coming year, and agreed to continue strengthening co-operation in the following five areas of informatisation:
1. accelerating the development of a Guangdong-Hong Kong smart city cluster;
2. deepening collaboration on cross-boundary e-commerce between Hong Kong and Guangdong;
3. enhancing informatisation for cross-boundary customs clearance;
4. continuing to deepen innovation and technology co-operation; and
5. expediting co-operation in telecommunications business and infrastructure between Hong Kong and Guangdong.
Mr Cheung said at the meeting that, regarding the new item in promoting the co-ordinated development of the AI-driven digital transformation of industries between Hong Kong and Guangdong added by the Expert Group last year, experts from the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Greater Bay Area National Technology Innovation Center held an online meeting and conducted in-depth discussions on the policy environment on the Mainland, Hong Kong's AI achievements and the research and development (R&D) of industrial large models, as well as the technical standard requirements for Guangdong to build an AI agents innovation centre. The online meeting helped inspire Guangdong to build a full-chain support system covering AI verification, platform innovation, and transformation of R&D outcomes. He pointed out that the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the HKSAR (2026-2030) and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address, as well as the Action Plan of Guangdong Province for Accelerating High-Level Application of Artificial Intelligence Across All Regions, All Sectors and at All Times published by the People's Government of Guangdong Province, all emphasised accelerating the translation of AI R&D outcomes and facilitating the deep integration of AI across different sectors. In this regard, he suggested that in the coming year, the Expert Group could build on the exchanges and collaboration between the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute (AIRDI) and the Pazhou Lab located in Guangdong Province to promote the development of "AI + Industry" between Hong Kong and Guangdong. Finally, he expressed his gratitude to the members of the Expert Group for their contributions to the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Officials from relevant departments, including the Digital Policy Office (DPO), the Office of the Communications Authority, the Innovation and Technology Commission, and Hong Kong Customs attended the meeting on behalf of the HKSAR Government. Mainland representatives who attended the meeting included officials from the GDDIIT, the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Government Service and Data, the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, the Radio and Television Administration of Guangdong Province, the Guangdong Communications Administration, the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, the Department of Transport of Guangdong Province, the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee. Members of the HKSAR delegation also comprised representatives from research institutions and industry organisations, including the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, Cyberport, and GS1 Hong Kong.
This morning, Mr Cheung attended the 2026 AI Empowered Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Software Industry High-quality Development Conference, the 14th Guangdong-Hong Kong Cloud Computing Conference and the 9th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area ICT Conference in Guangzhou. With the theme "Seizing New Opportunities in AI Empowerment, Creating New Engines for Greater Bay Area Development", the conference aimed to explore the historic opportunities of AI in reshaping the global software and cloud computing industry to shape new advantages for the development of the software industry in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao, as well as to promote the high-quality development of the next-generation information technology and software industry in the GBA.
Addressing the main forum of the conference, Mr Cheung said that the HKSAR Government has been comprehensively promoting AI development over the past few years, including the establishment of 16 relevant laboratories under the InnoHK research clusters, and the launch of the $3 billion Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme. The AIRDI would come into operation in the second half of this year, and would spearhead and support Hong Kong's innovative R&D as well as industrial application of AI. He also stated that Hong Kong's overall computing power had now reached 5 000 peta-floating point operations per second (PFLOPS). To further support the local demand for computing power, the construction of the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster had commenced and was expected to provide 180 000 PFLOPS computing power by 2032. The Financial Secretary also established and chaired the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy this June to steer AI-driven industrial transformation. The Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address also promulgated that the Chief Secretary for Administration, assisted by the Commissioner for AI, would co-ordinate AI risk governance. In addition, under the "AI for All" Inclusive Programme, the Government would help the general public, university students, researchers and professionals make good use of AI.
In addition, Mr Cheung mentioned that the HKSAR Government is making every effort to build and develop the Northern Metropolis (NM) into an international hub for high-calibre talent. He invited Guangdong technology enterprises and talent to set up their businesses in Hong Kong and establish a presence in the NM, so as to collaborate with the Hong Kong industry in joining forces to go global and expand into international markets.
The conference attracted nearly 500 experts, scholars and industry professionals from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Government representatives from the three places and representatives from research institutions also attended the conference. Being one of the major annual events of the Hong Kong/Guangdong co-operation in informatisation, the conference was jointly organised by the Guangdong Software Industry Association, the Yangcheng Evening News Group, the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited and the Computer Chambers of Macau, under the steer of the GDDIIT, the DPO of the HKSAR Government, the Economic and Technological Development Bureau of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the Yangcheng Evening News Group.
Ends/Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:50
Issued at HKT 17:50
NNNN
Photo
