The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government, marking their first collaboration. The partnership aims to enhance the efficiency and quality of public services, supporting the development of Hong Kong as a “Smart City.”
The MoU focuses on the adoption of technologies in four primary areas: innovative immigration clearance modes, biometric identification and authentication, AI-assisted immigration applications, and collaborative robotics technology. This initiative is expected to improve the Immigration Department’s service levels by increasing staff efficiency and meeting growing public demand.
Weiterlesen: CN: Hong Kong Tech Boffins Look to Biometrics, AI for ‘Smart City’ Boost
On the cards is a plan to cultivate and retain digital talent through enhanced training, while attracting talents from outside Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan mentioned plans to promote the city's digital economy, including the establishment of the ‘Digital Policy Office’ by the middle of this year, on his blog on 14 April 2024.
- With robust backing by the Hong Kong Government, the city is set to transform its transportation system and promote overall sustainability by adopting innovative technologies.
- Hong Kong’s emerging tech-driven smart mobility ecosystem presents numerous opportunities for collaborations between local and international corporations.
Transportation, a daily necessity, is central to Hong Kong’s smart city development, as detailed in the “Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0” published by the Government in 2020.
Weiterlesen: CN: Smart mobility transformation of Hong Kong’s transportation system is on track
“The success of government technology is not dependent solely on bits and cables – infrastructure, internet speed, and ubiquitous connectivity. No vision of smartness or technological advancement is possible without public trust and political legitimacy,” writes Kris Hartley.
In February 2024, Hong Kong police announced plans to instal 615 new surveillance cameras in areas of the city with “high crime figures and high pedestrian flows.” The announcement also mentioned the possibility of equipping the cameras with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. This news follows a January 2024 announcement that 2,000 surveillance cameras would be installed around the city this year. According to an RTHK article, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk “added that he understood some people had privacy concerns, but said many other places had more CCTV cameras than Hong Kong.”
Weiterlesen: CN: Hong Kong’s ‘smart city’ ambitions depend on trust as well as technology
A vivid three-dimensional rendering of a bridge appeared on the intelligent monitor and evaluation platform at Beijing Yunlu Technology Co., Ltd., pointing to key factors of bridge health. Real-time status, events, transportation navigation, and traffic conditions were all tracked on the screen.
Numerous sensors installed on bridge track every minor dynamic change on the bridge surface and perform digital analysis, according to Gao Fengyong, a regional chief with the tech firm. When a large vehicle approaches, the system checks its weight and produces an early warning if the vehicle and its load is heavier than the bridge was designed to support. The vehicle is then immediately intercepted from crossing the bridge as an emergency response. The screen of the monitor platform shows a digital twin replica of the bridge.
Weiterlesen: CN: Digital Twins: A New Model for Urban Governance