Hong Kong pitches AI governance expertise to major economies

Hong Kong can offer trusted artificial-intelligence governance services to major economies, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said in his weekly blog on Sunday. Chan said the city could use its common-law system, internationally connected standards and professional-services sector to provide what he described as “rules” and “trust” as governments address AI governance, data, compliance and risk management. He identified potential services including AI model training, cross-border data transfers, privacy protection and dispute resolution.

He also highlighted Hong Kong’s biliterate and trilingual legal talent and access to financial support. The comments followed the government’s policy address, which identified seven areas of AI risk governance. These included tackling deepfake pornography and online scams, preparing management guidelines for AI agents and assessing the ethical risks of AI systems.

Chan also linked AI policy to employment. A government manpower report predicted that the city’s labour shortfall would narrow to 130,000 in 2028, partly because of economic transformation, AI adoption and talent and labour-importation measures. However, the report said innovation, aviation, construction, city operations and healthcare would continue to face shortages.

Chan said gaps would remain concentrated in work requiring interpersonal interaction, on-site judgment and complex craftsmanship. He said Hong Kong would need both workers whose skills AI could not replace and people who understood the AI industry. The government, he added, was promoting AI training and broader skills as part of the city’s future competitiveness.