The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced the establishment of the Digital Policy Office on Thursday, in a move to accelerate its digital transformation and bring greater benefits to Hong Kong people and business sectors through enhanced government efficiency and digitalized services.  

Comprising three specific branches — Digital Government, Data Governance and Digital Infrastructure — the Digital Policy Office under the HKSAR government’s Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB) will work to formulate policies and initiatives in these three areas.

In addition to strengthening digital infrastructure and security, the office will encourage government bureaus and departments to roll out innovative public services through the adoption of advanced information technologies, while also facilitating the opening up and sharing of data, as well as data analytics and application.

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ITIB Secretary Sun Dong said he believes that the designated office will bring convenience to the public and benefit the business sector to meet the ever-changing needs and public expectations in the digital era.

“Digitalization is conducive to social and economic development, as well as to the enhancement of the government’s operational efficiency and innovation of public services,” Sun said, noting that digital technology and data are important elements in driving high-quality development and new quality productive forces.

The office is expected to deepen the SAR’s cooperation with the Chinese mainland, including facilitating cross-border data flows and e-government services.

Consolidating the functions and resources of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Efficiency Office, the establishment of the new office was proposed by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in his second Policy Address released last October.

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With the goal of enhancing governance capability and efficacy proposed in the document, the Hong Kong government said it will launch over 100 initiatives to promote digital government and the smart city within the year. These projects include issuing and verifying licenses and certificates electronically by using blockchain technology, and providing electronic payment options for all government fees.

As a step toward digitizing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong province jointly launched cross-boundary public services in November 2023, enabling residents and enterprises in the SAR and mainland cities of the GBA to access more than 100 public services of the two places online anytime. The number of services available online has now expanded to over 150.

Contact the writer at: irisli@chinadailyhk.com