Smart city schooling
In the Liberal Studies Paper 2 of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) this year, it excited me that out of the three questions, there was one about smart city development. Why? Being selected as an examination question means that “smart city" has become a topic of significance and great interest in Hong Kong.
As early as 2016, the Smart City Consortium (SCC) that I founded has submitted an advisory paper to the government, pointing out that one of the requirements for a smart city was that all information of the government and authorities be available in “digital by default". It enhances governance transparency and respects the public’s right to know. In early January, the SAR Government announced more than 650 new datasets will be released this year via the Public Sector Information Portal (data.gov.hk) for free viewing and use by the public. The move comes after more than 80 government bureaus and departments published their first annual open data plans last year. Such a move fulfills the commitment made by the chief executive in her Policy Address last year. It can also be seen as an important step toward “digital by default". 繼續閱讀
Can you imagine what Hong Kong will look like 10 or 20 years from now? By that time, can we still rely on the four major industries currently accounting for nearly 60 percent of GDP – trading and logistics, tourism, financial services, and professional services – and continue to enjoy prosperity and stability with a per capita GDP still among the world’s top 20, higher than Germany, Canada or the United Kingdom? 繼續閱讀
Have you ever wondered why Hong Kong as an international financial center is unable to produce even one financial technology (fintech) “unicorn"? That is: a startup with a valuation of over $1 billion. Meanwhile, mainland China has 17 unicorns with a total valuation exceeding $111 billion, according to Hurun Greater China Unicorn Index released last month. Two international consultants, KPMG and McKinsey, also confirmed China’s leading position in the global fintech arena. 繼續閱讀
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor will deliver her first policy address soon. The public have long expected that the new CE would use her maiden policy address to tackle major problems, one of which is to help inject new impetus into Hong Kong’s economy, and provide our young people with more opportunities for upward mobility. I think a smart city which emphasizes bottom-up participation, utilizing information and communications technology to improve our quality of employment and life is certainly the way forward. 繼續閱讀
