The Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center (HKGAI) warmly welcomes the key innovation and technology (I&T) measures set out in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan) and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address (2026 Policy Address), announced by the Chief Executive, Mr. John LEE Ka-chiu.
These measures include deepening the implementation of the AI+ initiative and promoting AI training for all; accelerating the development of computing power infrastructure such as the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster; setting up an "AI City Brain" integrated city management system; establishing a new development framework underpinned by "three major I&T parks and five key R&D institutions"; enhancing the AI and data governance framework; and rolling out a digital education learning resource platform.
HKGAI will actively put into practice the National 15th Five-Year Plan and Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, continue to advance the indigenous R&D and application of AI technologies in Hong Kong, nurture local I&T talent, and give its full support to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T center and hub for high-caliber talent.
Prof. GUO Yike, Provost of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Director of HKGAI, said, "We are pleased to see that the inaugural Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address demonstrate the Government's determination to accelerate AI development. Rooted in Hong Kong and built on locally developed large models, HKGAI is turning the city's research outcomes, computing resources, and governance experience into solutions that can be delivered beyond Hong Kong, helping enterprises accelerate their AI transformation. HKGAI is committed to launching a wide range of AI applications to empower industries across sectors, in particular our newly launched AI teaching and learning assistant, 'HKLearn', which has been very well received by teachers and students. HKGAI will work hand in hand with the Government, the industry, and all sectors of the community to realize the policy direction of 'Industries for AI' and 'AI for Industries'. We believe that AI can drive economic growth across all sectors and application scenarios, and propel Hong Kong forward as a smart city."
HKGAI supports the Government in accelerating the transformation of AI research outcomes, developing application scenarios, and pursuing deep integration across industries, including finance, education, healthcare, legal services, logistics, and public services. HKGAI is currently dedicated to translating its R&D outcomes into diversified AI solutions that empower enterprises and organizations on their journey towards intelligent upgrading.
In terms of education empowerment, in Sept., HKGAI launched "HKLearn", a new AI teaching and learning assistant that enhances students' and young people's awareness and application skills of AI. Powered by HKGAI V3 and purpose-built for higher education settings, the system automatically synchronizes course lecture notes, answers questions in natural language, and instantly converts teaching materials into revision tools such as quizzes, charts, and mind maps.
"HKLearn" is currently available to all HKUST teachers and students (the HKUST edition is named HKUST Teaching Agent), covering more than 1,280 courses. Plans are also under way to open it up for trial use by teachers and students at other post-secondary education institutions, in full support of the Government's policy direction of promoting digital education and developing Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education.
For digital government and public services, HKGAI has been working closely with the Government's iAM Smart platform, and the public can currently access the "HKChat" app through iAM Smart. Looking ahead, HKGAI will further deepen its integration with the iAM Smart platform to help citizens search for and access a wide range of e-Government and public services in a faster and more direct manner, jointly building a seamless, one-stop smart government service experience.
The 2026 Policy Address sets out plans to introduce AI Agent safety-management guidelines applicable to society at large. HKGAI will give its full cooperation to the safety-management guidelines and governance framework of the Government, and is pleased to offer technical views drawing on its experience in local model alignment and safety evaluation, to ensure that AI drives social development on a safe, trustworthy, and compliant basis.
HKGAI also supports the Government's development at Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster. Computing power is a vital element of AI. HKGAI has always believed that Hong Kong must possess its own computing power, LLMs, AI applications, and related software and hardware, all of which are indispensable components in building sovereign AI.
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