Speech by SITI at GBA International Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Summit 2024
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the GBA International Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Summit 2024 today (November 26):
Emil (Deputy Chairman of Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), Mr Emil Yu), Mohamed (Executive Director of HKPC, Mr Mohamed Butt), distinguished speakers and guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to be here today at the GBA International Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Summit 2024. As we step into the third edition of the conference, we are thrilled to see many experts and innovative start-ups from the Mainland and around the world this year. A very warm welcome to you all.
AI (artificial intelligence) and robotics have transformed every walk of life and modes of operation across various industry sectors, from healthcare and finance to manufacturing and service industries. These powerful and heavily related technologies have not only greatly enhanced productivity and optimised service quality but have also brought about greater convenience, personalised services and better quality of life. Coupled with the vast market size and population in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the benefits of AI and robotics applications, alongside the associated business opportunities, are immensely promising and substantial.
Hong Kong provides the perfect setting for AI and robotics technologies to flourish. With the support of our motherland, Hong Kong is making strides towards becoming an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. As home to five of the world's top 100 universities, we possess world-class R&D (research and development) capabilities and tech infrastructure, as well as a diverse talent pool. In the latest IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, Hong Kong has ascended to rank seventh globally, which serves as a recognition to our continuous effort in promoting the I&T development of Hong Kong over the past few years.
Indeed, we have spared no effort in implementing all-round measures to foster a vibrant AI ecosystem in Hong Kong that is conducive to both the community and businesses. To provide sufficient computing power resources for R&D, Cyberport is working full steam on developing the AI Supercomputing Centre, or AISC in short, to meet the growing demands of research institutes and industry sector. The first phase of the facility will soon come into operation. With computing power of around 3000 petaFLOPS, the AISC will be one of the larger-scale computing facilities in the region.
Also, users of the AISC can leverage the AI Subsidy Scheme, in a total amount of HK$3 billion, equivalent to around US$385 million, to receive funding support for the computing resources to drive their AI-driven R&D work and innovative applications.
Ladies and gentlemen, with our motherland's staunch support, Hong Kong is well poised to develop into an international I&T centre. We will make good use of Hong Kong's distinctive advantages of being closely connected to the world, and play well our important role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder", with a view to becoming a platform for high-level I&T exchange, dialogue and co-operation, as well as an important bridge and two-way platform connecting the country and the world, thereby better serving the country's high-quality development.
Last but not least, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Hong Kong Productivity Council for organising this Summit. May I wish the Summit a great success, and everyone an inspiring conference filled with valuable insights and cross-sectoral exchanges. Thank you.
Speech by SITI at GBA International Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Summit 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation of HKSAR Government and senior representatives of business sectors to Guangzhou to begin visit to Mainland cities of GBA
A delegation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and senior representatives of the business sectors, led by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, arrived in Guangzhou today (November 25), marking the commencement of a three-day visit to Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), with a view to further promoting the co-operation between the HKSAR and the Guangdong Province and various GBA cities in business, trade and different industries.
The delegation attended the Guangdong-Hong Kong Deepening Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation Conference co-organised by the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the HKSAR Government this afternoon to exchange views on enhancing economic, trade and investment co-operation, and promote high-quality development of the GBA. The Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Huang Kunming; Mr Lee; and the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zheng Yanxiong, delivered speeches at the conference.
In his speech, Mr Lee said that, with the support of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the Guangdong Provincial Government, the conference brought together government officials and representatives of the business sectors from Guangdong and Hong Kong to join hands in taking concrete actions to promote the high-quality development of the GBA proactively.
He said that Guangdong and Hong Kong, sharing close geographical ties and same cultural roots, have been closely interacting and co-operating with each other over the years in different areas including economic and trade investment, tourism and culture, as well as people's living. Both sides deepen co-operation under the spirit of complementarity and mutual benefits, so as to make greater contributions to the GBA as a strategic fulcrum of the new development pattern of our country, a demonstration zone of high-quality development, and a pioneer of Chinese modernisation. He also encouraged the business sectors in Guangdong and Hong Kong to continue to seize the opportunities to contribute to, and benefit from, the development of the GBA into a world-class bay area.
The Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Zhang Xin; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, together with representatives from multiple Hong Kong, foreign and Guangdong enterprises, gave thematic presentations to around 350 business leaders of the GBA to promote the development potential of Hong Kong and Guangdong, as well as the huge market and business opportunities of the GBA. The conference also witnessed the signing of 126 contracts with a total value of RMB 100 billion between enterprises of the two places.
After the conference, Mr Lee and the delegation attended the welcoming dinner hosted by the People's Government of Guangdong Province. They exchanged views on further deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong co-operation to jointly promote the high-quality development of the GBA.
In the evening, Mr Lee and the delegation arrived in Foshan and met with the Secretary of the CPC Foshan Municipal Committee, Mr Tang Yifeng. Mr Lee said that Foshan has a solid foundation in manufacturing with well-established production lines and production chains, while Hong Kong has rich experience in areas including finance, commerce and professional services, as well as research and development capabilities and the advantage of internationalisation. Hong Kong will continue to maintain close co-operation with Foshan to jointly seize the opportunities brought about by GBA development.
Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (November 26). Mr Chan will lead the delegation to continue its visit to Foshan, Guangzhou and Dongguan.
CE leads delegation of HKSAR Government and senior representatives of business sector to Guangzhou to begin visit to Mainland cities of GBA Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation of HKSAR Government and senior representatives of business sector to Guangzhou to begin visit to Mainland cities of GBA Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation of HKSAR Government and senior representatives of business sector to Guangzhou to begin visit to Mainland cities of GBA Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation of HKSAR Government and senior representatives of business sector to Guangzhou to begin visit to Mainland cities of GBA Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE leads delegation of HKSAR Government and senior representatives of business sector to Guangzhou to begin visit to Mainland cities of GBA Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
