Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Bureau: Accelerating the industrialization of artificial intelligence to create a healthy and orderly AI development ecosystem.

On March 18th, acting Secretary for Innovation and Technology of Hong Kong, Jessie Ting Man-Lee, responded to questions from Legislative Council members, stating that the government is accelerating the promotion of industrialization of artificial intelligence (AI) and promoting deep integration of AI with industries. At the same time, the government actively encourages the widespread application of AI to achieve universal usage and utilization. Throughout the process, the government has been advocating for the organic combination of AI technological innovation and safe usage to create a healthy and orderly AI development ecosystem. Ting Man-Lee emphasized that AI governance is the cornerstone of ensuring safe, ethical, and responsible application of AI. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer has released and continuously updated documents such as the "Artificial Intelligence Ethics Framework" and the "Hong Kong General Artificial Intelligence Technology and Application Guidelines" to provide a set of AI governance frameworks tailored to the Hong Kong context for the development and application of AI technology, covering important principles for identifying and managing potential AI risks and safety regulations. As a leading public institution in Hong Kong for AI research and development, the Hong Kong AI Research Institute will focus on improving the local AI governance system and strengthening the foundation of AI technology empowerment. The goals of the research institute's work include: (i) Establishing AI standards and promoting institutional alignment, such as the "National Standard Artificial Intelligence Service Capability Maturity Assessment" and ISO42001 Artificial Intelligence Management System; (ii) Providing AI safety assessments and related consultancy services, allowing local AI systems and enterprises to train AI models in a safe and standardized environment and undergo compliance testing according to international standards; and (iii) Building cross-sector and cross-regional AI collaboration platforms to jointly promote the standardization and safe application of AI. The government has appointed the board of directors of the research institute this month, leading the institute to quickly complete personnel deployment with the aim of fully operationalizing in the second half of this year to implement the above initiatives for promoting the safe use and ethics of AI. Under current legislation, any involvement in the dissemination of obscene photos or personal privacy, whether or not AI was used in their creation, is regulated by relevant laws. Regarding the production of pornographic, lewd, or indecent images using AI, the Subcommittee on Computer Crime under the Law reform Commission is studying existing laws from the perspective of crimes facilitated through computer networks and will seek public consultation in due course. Ting Man-Lee mentioned that to examine whether laws across different policy areas can adapt to the development of technology, including AI, the Secretary of Justice of Hong Kong has convened a steering committee meeting for the establishment of a cross-departmental working group on "Reviewing the Legal Frameworks Needed to Support Broader Adoption of AI." This highlights the government's proactive and positive response to addressing risks (such as deepfake pornography and fake news) associated with AI development and application, and the need for regulations (including in AI governance) to strike a balance between promoting development and mitigating risks. The establishment of the working group is crucial for addressing issues arising from the rapid development and extensive application of AI, with core members from various policy bureaus and departments. Each bureau/department will conduct a comprehensive and in-depth review of existing laws, identify loopholes or shortcomings, and then research targeted and actionable solutions based on the Hong Kong actual environment. The working group is actively engaged in its work, with no definitive decision yet made on whether specific issues should be addressed through legislation. Regarding education curricula, the Hong Kong Education Bureau has been closely communicating with the University Grants Committee (UGC) to encourage universities to further enhance their measures in AI and network technology applications for students. The UGC has earmarked HK$100 million in the 2023 funding allocation to establish a Science and Education Innovation Fund to promote the use of technology in advancing teaching innovation and enriching learning experiences, nurturing students to become well-rounded talents in the digital economy and promote science and technology social responsibility and academic integrity, including issues related to academic integrity, data privacy, and security from legal and ethical perspectives. On the other hand, to promote "AI for All," the 2026-2027 Financial Budget proposes organizing AI-related courses and activities to enhance students, youth, and the public's understanding and application skills in AI and to use AI responsibly. The authorities are actively preparing for relevant work, working with public institutions familiar with AI, together with enterprises and universities, to launch related projects gradually in the second half of this year.