National political adviser Wong Kam-fai proposed deeper cross-border collaboration to expedite Hong Kong’s technology advancement, such as setting up a joint investment fund, promoting the application of leading Chinese artificial intelligence model DeepSeek in Hong Kong, and boosting communication among officials in charge of tech affairs.

During a news conference on Thursday, Wong, a Hong Kong member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said he had submitted seven proposals covering science and technology cooperation, AI, and the low-altitude economy, for the committee’s annual gathering, which starts on Tuesday.

Wong, who is also a Hong Kong computer scientist and engineering professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, recommended that the central government encourage more mainland science and technology enterprises to establish branches in Hong Kong.

By using Hong Kong as a platform, mainland enterprises can achieve the transformation of technological advancements and expand their presence internationally, Wong said.

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Furthermore, led by the central government, State-level funds would collaborate with private funds in science and technology areas to establish a joint fund dedicated to cross-border investments, Wong said.

Under this joint fund, a sub-fund could be established in Hong Kong. The funds from the mainland designated for this sub-fund can undergo a streamlined approval process to expedite their transfer to Hong Kong, Wong added.

Wong also proposed that the central government consider advocating to deploy DeepSeek, a domestically developed AI large language model, in Hong Kong.

This move would encourage DeepSeek’s utilization in the city as well as leverage Hong Kong’s advantage to bolster its international presence and global impact, Wong said.

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Additionally, Wong recommends enhancing governmental operations and management through AI technologies.

For instance, Wong suggests establishing an intelligent government consultation system by utilizing large language model technology to gather public opinion.

Moreover, an AI system for analyzing livelihood issues could be founded, delving into data to identify the underlying causes of livelihood conflicts and offer scientific solutions.

Wong also suggests streamlining the approval process for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area science and technology officials visiting Hong Kong, as he believes current restrictions on government officials’ departures have hindered cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong.

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Wong recommends creating a dedicated channel for mainland science and technology officials, providing special passes to ensure their smooth travel to Hong Kong.

Due to regulatory disparities between the mainland and Hong Kong’s low-altitude economic sector, Wong proposed that cities in the Greater Bay Area collaborate to establish uniformed airspace planning and control standards.

As customs clearance procedures for low-altitude transportation in those cities take a long time, Wong recommends creating a cross-border low-altitude economic cooperation group.

This initiative would aim to construct a low-altitude delivery network to enhance operational efficiency and streamline processes across the region, Wong added.