Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced that Hong Kong will launch an optimized version of the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Scheme within this year to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting ready-made artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.
In a blog post published on the Financial Secretary's official website on Sunday (July 19), Chan wrote that artificial intelligence is being applied at different levels, including the transition from conversational chatbots to embodied intelligence in the physical world, reflecting its movement from the digital realm to the real world and its growing infiltration into various aspects of everyday life.
He pointed out that, like computers and the internet, artificial intelligence will become the underlying foundation for economic and social development. In today's society, everyone needs to know how to use computers, though not everyone needs to be an engineer. The profound changes brought about by AI affect not only individual industries, but also learning, living, working, managing businesses, and even the very way we create.
Chan introduced that Hong Kong has long been actively participating in the wave of technological innovation and application, while at the same time stepping up support for local applications. Last month, the "AI+ and Industry Development Strategy Committee" held its first meeting, engaging in in-depth discussions on key elements such as scientific and technological innovation, data flow and security, computing power infrastructure, application scenarios, talent cultivation, and funding. This marks the shift of Hong Kong's AI deployment from advancing step by step to systemically planning, striving to enable AI to empower thousands of industries.
He stated that Hong Kong will launch an optimized version of the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Scheme within this year, supporting SMEs in adopting ready-made AI solutions.
It is reported that the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Scheme is funded by the Digital Policy Office under the government’s Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, and implemented by Hong Kong Cyberport. The scheme aims to provide one-to-one matching grants to help SMEs in Hong Kong’s catering, retail, tourism, and personal services industries adopt ready-made basic digital solutions and accelerate their transformation.
Chan emphasized that as an international innovation and technology center, Hong Kong leverages its connectivity under "one country, two systems" to serve both as a hub for AI research and development and as a strategic platform for Mainland China’s AI enterprises to expand internationally, helping cutting-edge technologies and business models connect to international standards and applications. At the same time, as an international financial center, Hong Kong can provide funding for such exploration and transformation.
He said these advantages are further attracting more tech enterprises to gather in Hong Kong. These companies have expressed plans to expand their business in the city, leveraging Hong Kong to achieve broader international development.