Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a wave of digital transformation across global industries, accelerating technology adoption and compelling professionals to integrate advanced AI solutions into daily operations. In Hong Kong, this transformation aligns with the Government’s “Smart City Blueprint 2.0,” which aims to leverage innovation and technology to create a world-leading smart city with robust economic growth and high living standards. Meanwhile, Legislative Council (LegCo) Members are urging the forthcoming Blueprint 3.0 to set new directions amid ongoing advancements.

 

The 2025 Policy Address by Chief Executive John Lee advances this agenda, announcing over 110 new digital government and smart city initiatives in line with the Digital Policy Office’s 2024–2025 rollout. Key highlights include the establishment of the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team, tasked with advancing AI-enabled governance and re-engineering public sector workflows for greater efficiency. To strengthen research and industry leadership, the 2025-2026 Budget allocates HK$1 billion to the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute, fostering pioneering AI research and positioning Hong Kong as a global innovation hub.

 

Complementing these policy efforts, the Digital Policy Office, in April 2025, released voluntary guidelines for generative AI technologies and applications. These best-practice recommendations provide a framework for responsible AI deployment, aligning with privacy, data protection, and ethical standards under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.

 

As Hong Kong’s infrastructure and digital platforms continue to evolve, the ICT sector is called upon to integrate emerging edge technologies and foster collaborative platforms for technical professionals. The “ICT Conference 2025 – From Virtual Agents to Physical Robots: Advances in AI Integration” serves as a dedicated forum for government officials, university researchers, and industry leaders to exchange perspectives on public policy, cutting-edge technological developments, and the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of ICT in Hong Kong.