Honourable Jeff LAM (Mr Jeffrey LAM, Non-official Member of the Executive Council), Ethan (Mr Ethan YUAN, Regional General Manager of Hong Kong & Macau, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you at the Alibaba Cloud Summit Hong Kong 2025. Today’s summit highlights the pivotal role that cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) in driving innovation, powering new business models and transforming services across diverse sectors. Thanks to Ali for providing this valuable platform for all of us to exchange perspectives and foster collaboration that will shape the next stage of our digital economy.

Since the release of the Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint in 2022, which identifies AI as a strategic priority, the Hong Kong SAR Government has taken determined steps to drive Hong Kong’s transformation into an international innovation and technology centre. In the Chief Executive’s Policy Address this year, AI was emphasised as the key driving force of industrial transformation. The Government has intensified efforts to promote AI as a core industry for Hong Kong’s development and to foster its comprehensive integration across sectors, striving for “industries for AI” and “AI for industries”.

Building on this direction, the Government has been continuously investing in AI research and infrastructure, while applying practical solutions in public services to enhance efficiency and service quality. The HK$3 billion Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme launched in September is designed to attract international top-notch talent and to strengthen our support for Hong Kong's basic research in frontier fields, with a view to expanding Hong Kong's research capacities. In addition, we have earmarked HK$1 billion for the establishment of the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute in 2026. The institute will not only support upstream AI research, but also translate midstream and downstream R&D outcomes into real‑world solutions, and expand practical use cases across different sectors.

Concerning infrastructure, Cyberport has recently expanded the capacity of its AI Supercomputing Centre to 3 000 PFLOPS, positioning to meet the surging demand for high‑performance computing across academia, research and various industries. Complementing this, the HK$3 billion AI Subsidy Scheme provides funding support to eligible institutions and enterprises, helping them access computing resources and accelerating AI innovation across different sectors. Recognising the ongoing need for advanced computing facilities to sustain continuous technological innovation, the Government has recently put up a site of over 10‑hectare in Sandy Ridge within the Northern Metropolis for this purpose, with the tendering process already underway.

Beyond expanding computing capacity, the Chief Executive encourages the wider adoption of AI in both private and public sectors, and has directed the Government to embed AI into daily operations and public service delivery to enhance efficiency and improve service quality. For instance, the Digital Policy Office will introduce an “AI Assistant” for the “iAM Smart” and the “CorpID”, our one-stop digital government services platform, to handle enquiries, offer personalised services and recommend suitable funding schemes and public support for enterprises. At the same time, the Government will support small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting AI through an enhanced Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme. Together, these initiatives underline the Government’s determination to build a world‑class AI and computing ecosystem, and to work with every sector to translate technological strengths into real outcomes for Hong Kong.

In closing, I wish this summit every success and trust that all of you will gain meaningful insights from its rich programme. The presence of industry leaders and technology innovators here today reflects our shared desire to harness digital transformation and shape a better future together.

It is also our shared commitment to shape a better future for Hong Kong through good governance. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all Hong Kong citizens to cast your votes in the Legislative Council General Election on 7 December, to help elect your desired legislators who will work for us to build a more prosperous future for our city. Thank you.

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