BUSINESS | HK’s OGCIO joins inaugural InnoEX

HONG KONG – The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council (HKTDC) organized the four-day inaugural InnoEX at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) on April 12. The Smart Hong Kong Pavilion of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) presented over 100 technology solutions that were closely related to people’s daily lives. Through interactive experiences and live demonstrations, the Pavilion showed the fruitful achievements in developing innovation and technology (I&T) and a smart city in Hong Kong, brought about by the concerted efforts of various sectors.

“The HKSAR Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T center, enhancing the efficiency and quality of public services through propelling wider application of I&T, and raising citizens’ sense of fulfillment,” said Professor Sun Dong, secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, who visited the Smart Hong Kong Pavilion, accompanied by Tony Wong, the acting government Chief Information Officer. Prof. Dong appreciated the efforts and achievements of various government departments and industries in fostering the development of Hong Kong into a smart city. He also encouraged colleagues and industry players to grasp the opportunities for integrating into the country’s I&T development plan and jointly accomplish the grand vision of building Hong Kong into an international I&T center. “The Pavilion, showcasing numerous innovative solutions, marks the significant contributions made by government departments and industry to Hong Kong’s I&T development. I&T is of utmost importance to Hong Kong’s high-quality economic development. I hope that the showcases will encourage exchanges and co-operation between various sectors and government departments, and facilitate the continuous enhancement of public services with the adoption of I&T.”

The Smart Hong Kong Pavilion introduced over 50 innovative solutions launched by government departments and over 60 winning entries from the local I&T sector. The OGCIO hopes to use this Pavilion to promote Hong Kong’s smart city development to local industries, as well as exhibitors and experts from the Mainland and overseas, and seize the opportunity to interact with different sectors to facilitate co-operation and boost international I&T collaboration, with a view to developing more solutions for the convenience and benefit of the public and the business sector.

Smart Living: The MyObservatory App provides specific Location-based Rain and Lightning Forecast using artificial intelligence (AI); and the Traffic Data Analytics System which combines real-time and past traffic and weather data to forecast instant journey time and for the following 90 minutes.

Smart Mobility: The Real-time Adaptive Traffic Signal System in Tung Chung improves the allocation of green times using radar sensors and AI technologies, and more; the Trial Scheme on Smart Zebra Crossing that detects approaching vehicles and pedestrians waiting to cross the road with thermal detectors to adjust brightness and flashing frequency of the beacons and the illuminated posts; and the Flight Token, the winner of Award of the Year at the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2022.

Smart Environment: The Unmanned Ground Penetrating Radar Robot Dog relieves staff from handling dangerous tasks and enhances operational efficiency in environmental protection work; the Unmanned 5G Auto-pilot Sampling Boat with Real-time Multi-parameters Water Quality Analyzing System that can carry out remote analysis of water quality and sampling in real-time; and the Acoustic Camera that allows investigators to locate noise sources at a glance.

Smart People: The Smart Customs Interactive Response System (SIRS) handles public enquiries with AI; Scameter+ that helps the public identify fraud and online pitfalls; iAM Smart, a one-stop personalized digital services platform which provides over 270 online services from public and private organizations.

Smart Government: The Unmanned Aircraft System adopts robotics and AI technologies to enhance operational efficiency for fire and rescue services; the Smart Site Management Hub developed by digital twin technology; and the “Mini Bull” Remotely Operated Underwater Wet Wells Cleaning Vehicle to reduce workers’ safety risks arising from entering wet wells.

Smart Economy: The Application of Blockchain and Dynamic QR Code Technologies-Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Registration System, developed on the Shared Blockchain Platform and the government’s first registration system using blockchain and dynamic QR code technologies; the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure portal which is a one-stop platform providing open spatial data; and the Smart Government Innovation Lab that connects government departments and industry for joint development of innovative public service solutions.

InnoEX was held at the HKCEC April 12 to 15. A series of winning entries of the Hong Kong ICT Awards, the “Maker in China” SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Contest-Hong Kong Chapter, and the Open Data Hackathon were showcased in the six areas of the Smart Hong Kong Pavilion, to commend exemplary innovations by local industry and inspire industry players to develop Hong Kong further as an international I&T center.