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OGCIO
12-10-2018

Opening Speech by Mr. Victor Lam, JP, Government Chief Information Officer, at the “Hong Kong Reception at Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards Guangzhou 2018” (with photos)


Mr Singh (Mr Stan Singh, APICTA 2018 Chairperson), Mandy (Ms Mandy Ng, Regional Director, Southern China, HKTDC), Ted (Ir Ted Suen, President, Hong Kong Computer Society, and Head of Hong Kong Delegation to APICTA 2018), Distinguished Judges, Honoured Guests, Participants of APICTA Awards, Friends from Hong Kong, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening, a warm welcome to the Hong Kong Reception!

First and foremost, I wish to thank the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Computer Society for hosting this evening’s event. My special gratitude goes to the Hong Kong Computer Society for leading the Hong Kong delegation to participate in APICTA 2018. I am delighted to join you at this prestigious contest.

In the past few days, we have seen marvellous innovations showcased by ICT talent coming from Hong Kong and our neighborhood economies. They broadened our vision and kindled our imaginations. No doubt, the standard of the APICTA Awards has been continuously rising and the Awards are becoming more and more competitively sought after.

Hong Kong is a staunch supporter of this annual event as witnessed by our enthusiastic participation in the past years. This year, I am pleased to have a 98-strong delegation of 35 entries comprising a good mix of talent from different sectors of Hong Kong, including private companies, Non-Government Organisations, the Government, and students from primary and secondary schools as well as post-secondary institutions.

Through creating a vibrant ecosystem for the industry, the government, academia and the research sector with excellent software and hardware support, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an innovation and technology hub of the region. We have invested over US$10 billion (HK$78 billion) to support Innovation & Technology (I&T) development in Hong Kong just in the last two years.

One of our key initiatives is to leverage I&T to build Hong Kong into a world-famed smart city characterised by a strong economy and citizens’ high quality of living.

A number of unprecedented projects will be rolled out to leapfrog our current city development. Starting from next year (2019), we will progressively install smart lampposts equipped with sensors in busy urban areas to collect real-time city data to enhance city and traffic management, as well as make available this convenient street furniture for mobile operators to install their mobile base stations in preparation for the rollout of the upcoming fifth generation (5G) mobile network.

We will also provide an electronic identity (eID) free of charge to all Hong Kong residents in mid-2020. Using this single digital identity, citizens can access various government and commercial on-line services in a convenient and secure manner. The eID will also spur the development of innovative digital services and streamline business processes through a unified authentication. One of the primary focuses of eID is on user experience – the operation will be fast and simple, if not faster and simpler than the commercial applications. On the other hand, the eID should provide the safest and most trustworthy authentication method in town.

Just a couple of days ago when our Chief Executive announced her second Policy Address, she pledged to allocate $500 million for organising an annual “City I&T Grand Challenge” in the next five years, in order to promote the use of I&T in addressing livelihood issues and create a fervid I&T atmosphere. We welcome various sectors to put forward I&T solutions to tackle issues closely related to our daily lives.

To take forward our smart city projects, we need talent, collaborations and innovations. Tonight, with so many talented and passionate people gathered at this event, let us mingle and connect with one another. We may collectively come up with more innovative ideas that can help address our city challenges.

Last but not least, I hope you will have an enjoyable night and wish you success tomorrow. Thank you.

- ENDS -