Good morning, and for those who come afar, welcome to Hong Kong! It is my great pleasure to join you all in this conference on urban governance and innovation.

Urban governance today demands not only accountability, transparency and inclusiveness in the decision and policy-making processes to ensure sustainable growth of a city, but also active use of innovation and technology for implementing new approaches of city management and public service delivery for the well-being of the citizens.

Hong Kong has long been embracing smart city development. With the vision to build a liveable, competitive, sustainable, and inclusive city, the Hong Kong SAR Government has initiated numerous innovation and technology initiatives under six key areas, namely Smart Mobility, Smart Living, Smart Environment, Smart People, Smart Government, and Smart Economy.

One of our flagship projects is the “iAM Smart” mobile app platform, which aims to provide citizens a “single portal for online government services”. It serves as a one-stop personalised platform enabling the use of a single digital identity to access various government and commercial online services, conduct online transactions, and perform digital signing with legal backing in a simple yet secure manner. As of today, there are over 3.8 million Hong Kong citizens registered as users of “iAM Smart”, with average daily usage over 180 000. Over 1 300 online services of the public and private sectors can be accessed through this one-stop platform. Commonly used services include SmartPLAY for booking of sports and recreation facilities, eTAX, vehicle licence renewal, application for international driving permit, contactless e-channel for immigration clearance, eHealth for accessing health records, etc. Building on this foundation and extending from individuals to corporations, we are also developing at full speed, the “Digital Corporate Identity” (“CorpID”) Platform, also known as the “business version” of “iAM Smart”, providing similar digital identity verification and access to the full range of government-to-business digital services for corporations of Hong Kong.

AI has now become the core driving force of a new round of technological revolution. The Chief Executive had announced in his 2025 Policy Address a series of new AI initiatives. Among them, the Hong Kong SAR Government has set up a high-level “AI Efficacy Enhancement Team” to co-ordinate and steer government departments in the effective application of AI in the provision of public services. For example, to use AI in expediting the processing of various licences and applications, to bring convenience to members of the public by providing an “AI Assistant” for users of the “iAM Smart” and the “CorpID” platforms to answer enquiries and offer personalised services, and to recommend suitable funding schemes and public service support for enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, further promoting the adoption of digital government services by corporations, and accelerating the digital transformation of the businesses in Hong Kong, especially the SMEs. We hope that these measures will set examples for different sectors and enhance the city’s ability to meet future challenges.

Hong Kong has adopted a dual-engine strategy for AI development, which involves developing AI as a core industry while promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and enterprises through AI. To strengthen AI governance, the DPO has promulgated the “Ethical AI Framework” and “Hong Kong Generative AI Technical and Application Guideline”, with the aim to balance AI innovation and development, application and responsibility, thereby constructing a governance framework for Hong Kong's context for all stakeholders in the AI ecosystem.

Today’s conference, with the collaboration of experts, including scholars and practitioners of public administration, business leaders and technology developers from different countries and cities, promises to be an exceptional platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building. Through a variety of interactive activities, including thematic presentations, panel and round-table discussions, I’m sure everyone will leave with important takeaways as well as invaluable connections that will facilitate further collaboration.

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to remind all Hong Kong citizens an important day for Hong Kong — the Legislative Council General Election will be held on the coming 7 December 2025. To uphold good governance, foster economic vibrancy, and ensure the well-being of our people, I encourage all Hong Kong citizens to cast your votes for your desired candidates who will work for us to build a more prosperous and better future for our city.

In closing, I wish you all a fruitful, productive and inspiring conference. Thank you.

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