By Kelly Ho

Copyright hongkongfp

The Hong Kong government will set up a dedicated team to promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across departments, Chief Executive John Lee has announced.

The AI Efficacy Enhancement Team, to be led by Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, will drive technological reform within the government, coordinating and steering different departments to use AI effectively and “re-engineering… outdated workflows,” the Hong Kong leader said during the 2025 Policy Address on Wednesday.

Lee said his administration would promote “AI+ development” with a strong emphasis on safety, as well as implement AI government services and facilitate the widespread application of the technology across different sectors to boost overall efficiency.

Hong Kong has the potential to become a “global hub for AI development,” he said, adding that AI would be developed as a “core industry” in the city.

“I will also put into practice the philosophy of better integration of ‘an efficient market’ with ‘a capable government and introduce [a] market-based business model to enhance the services of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department,” he said.

The Hong Kong leader also cited the application of AI in the government-run public enquiries hotline 1823 and the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).

The 1823 service has used AI technology to automatically recognise voice enquiries from members of the public and help draft written responses, reducing the processing time by about 30 per cent, Lee said.

Meanwhile, the C&SD has applied AI technology to examine trade data and retrieve financial information from the financial statements and announcements of thousands of listed companies for statistical compilation, he added.

According to the Digital Policy Office website, the C&SD has pioneered the use of AI models to analyse unstructured data since 2018. The approach has not only reduced manpower used in manual checking procedures by 40 per cent but also improved data quality, it said.

The department estimated in May that the total cost incurred for the 2026 and 2031 Population Censuses would be reduced by about 40 per cent – around $680 million – thanks to the use of AI and data science technology.

The chief executive already signalled the prominence of AI in this year’s Policy Address with a promotional video released on Sunday, showing AI-generated imagery of himself wearing a green tie designed by the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong specifically for the event.

Hong Kong’s push for the use of AI comes after China released its AI policy blueprint last month. The high-level directive outlined Beijing’s ambition to achieve “deep integrations” of AI in six strategic areas, including scientific research and public governance, by 2027. The directive aims to reach a 90 per cent AI prevalence rate in the country by 2030.