By Lam Ka-Sing

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Hong Kong authorities are set to reshape how they deliver public services, rolling out a sweeping plan to embed AI in at least 200 administrative procedures by the end of 2027 in a bid to boost efficiency and create a more responsive, tech-driven bureaucracy.
The timeline, listed in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address on Wednesday, will result in AI tools being deployed across 100 different procedures within 2026 alone, tackling areas from data analysis and customer service to expediting the approval of licences and permits.
Lee said that artificial intelligence should be developed as an industry and integrated with various sectors, not just as an application.
“AI is a must. We welcome any technology and company to come in. Hong Kong is a free and open port. We have no control of people-to-people flow, data flow …” Lee said.
The push into automation and smart governance represents one of the most significant technological reforms for the administration, which has faced pressure to streamline manpower and improve service delivery.
A new high-level AI Efficacy Enhancement Team, led by senior officials and including private sector expertise, is set to be planned by the end of this year to steer citywide digital transformation, offering advice and solutions to various government departments, according to a source.
The policy address declared AI a “core industry” with significant capital backing the strategy, including the launch of a HK$10 billion Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund in 2026-27 to channel market investment into AI, robotics and other strategic sectors.

While the move was welcomed by the tech industry as a catalyst for job creation and innovation, experts cautioned that success would depend not only on funding but also on developing clear regulatory guidelines and robust training programmes to prepare the workforce and ensure the technology was used responsibly.
The government’s plan includes specific applications such as using AI for non-emergency reporting to the police via voice messages, expediting the vetting and approval of transport licences and an AI assistant for the “iAM Smart” platform, which is hoped to be launched in late 2026.
In healthcare, AI will be used to improve the accuracy of pathology analysis and provide real-time interpretation services for ethnic minorities during consultations.
Industry leaders responded with cautious optimism. Bill Lee, managing director for Hong Kong at Jobsdb by SEEK, said he expected the policies to generate more AI-related jobs in sectors such as product management and data analytics.
The number of AI-related roles rose by 6 per cent in the first half of this year despite an overall slowdown in the job market, particularly in banking and finance, insurance and sales, Lee said.
Deloitte China’s southern region technology, media and telecommunications leader Bong Chan said the government’s move to lower the application threshold for the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme could benefit even more companies.
The scheme provides funding on a matching basis for the employment of relevant technical personnel, encouraging the establishment of more smart production facilities.
However, Keith Li King-wah, chairman of the Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association, warned that education and training were crucial.
“The AI we have now is still very much a preliminary product … The first thing we need to do is raise more awareness,” Li said, calling for more guidelines from regulatory bodies to help private companies use AI responsibly.

Legislative Council member Professor Wong Kam-fai, whose recommendations were adopted in the address, suggested the government develop a “Hong Kong Education Large Language Model,” starting with maths, as AI could make educational resources more equitable.
With training on text data, large language models can generate natural language text and handle various tasks, such as text summarisation, questioning and answering, and translation.
Assistant Professor Li Jingzong of the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong said that while applying artificial intelligence to public services could directly improve residents’ experience, it was essential to ensure the transparency and accountability of AI systems, especially in healthcare and public safety.
The government will put up for tender a site of about 10 hectares at Sandy Ridge in North district this year.
Li added if the cluster was positioned as a data and computing power hub for the Greater Bay Area, it would effectively enhance Hong Kong’s core position in the regional AI ecosystem.
Additional reporting by Oscar Liu and Ng Kang-chung