Speech by the Assistant Commissioner (Mainland and Industry Collaboration), Ms Cari Wu, at the “Information Sharing on Digital Economy Issues” session of the “Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2026 Digital Weeks (Digital Economy Steering Group Meeting)” (with photo)

Chair and distinguished fellow colleagues,

Good morning. It is a great pleasure to be here today to share the recent progress of Hong Kong, China (HKC) in digital economy development. In this age of unprecedented technological advancement, HKC has launched concrete initiatives to foster a vibrant and secure digital economy.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are vital pillars of our economy, and digital transformation has become a key driving force behind their ability to grow and thrive in this digital era. Through our Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme (Pilot Programme), we subsidise eligible SMEs in adopting ready-to-use basic digital solutions. In general, SMEs receiving the subsidies have reported that the Pilot Programme has helped reduce operating costs, enhance efficiency and increase customers. Given the positive feedback from SMEs, we plan to launch an enhanced version of the Pilot Programme to cover ready-to-use basic artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity solutions. Our goal is to enable SMEs to upgrade, transform and strengthen their competitiveness in the digital era.

In addition to driving technology adoption, encouraging local inventions and applications fuels the long-term development of our digital economy. To this end, we have been organising the Hong Kong ICT Awards (HKICTA) since 2006. Marking its 20th anniversary this year, the HKICTA has become an annual signature event of our local information and communications technology (ICT) industry. By recognising and promoting outstanding ICT inventions and applications, we continuously celebrate and encourage innovation and excellence among our ICT talent and enterprises in their constant pursuit of creative and better solutions meeting business and social needs. The winners not only gain prestigious recognition but also the opportunity to represent HKC in regional and international competitions, participate in overseas innovation and technology exhibitions, and join the newly formed “HKICTA Winner Circle”, opening doors to new opportunities.

A thriving digital economy requires an equally robust foundation of cybersecurity measures. A proactive approach is essential to elevate security awareness, enhance defence capabilities and improve cyber resilience across all sectors. In this regard, we have introduced a series of strategic cybersecurity initiatives, including the Secure AI@Work Enablement Campaign that advocates the ethical and secure application of AI technologies in enterprises and public organisations. In parallel, we are collaborating with the industry to host the AI x Cybersecurity Challenge to harness AI’s potential in strengthening threat detection and system resilience, while nurturing local cybersecurity talent. To further sharpen practical skills, the upcoming Cyber Attack and Defence Elite Training cum Tournament will integrate AI technologies, free professional training and simulated practical exercises to enhance participants’ cybersecurity offensive-defensive capabilities and AI collaboration literacy, enabling them to effectively tackle increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Besides, as digital innovation accelerates, it is critical for our legal framework to keep pace with the technological progress. In addition to our robust AI governance framework, we have established the Inter-Departmental Working Group to Review Legislation to Support Wider Application of AI (Working Group). This Working Group takes the lead in promptly reviewing relevant laws with a view to modernising them to foster a facilitative regulatory environment, whilst upholding the rights and interests of all stakeholders involved.

Looking ahead, as the digital economy continues to expand and evolve, countless opportunities and boundless possibilities will unfold. HKC is committed to advancing our digital economy and stands ready to collaborate and deepen exchanges with our fellow members, ensuring our digital economy remains vibrant and resilient for generations to come. Thank you.

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