Hong Kong’s high-quality economic development will be guided by its first five-year blueprint and the coming policy address, with AI as the “central plank”, the city’s leader has said.
Speaking at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference 2026 on Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” advantages and commitment to innovation and technology put the city in a position to connect the world with opportunities in a future powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
“Hong Kong is recognised worldwide for its openness, deep international networks and role as a vital bridge between mainland China and the rest of the world,” he said.
This year’s China Conference, themed “Intelligence at Scale: Hong Kong’s AI-Powered Future”, was primarily sponsored by Manulife.
At the event, publisher Tammy Tam announced that the SCMP would host a China Conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, in September.
The announcement follows Chief Executive Lee’s high-level delegation to Central Asia last month and marks the first such event organised by a local media outlet in the region.
