What Changed
- Promulgation of Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan in September 2026 targeting international I&T centre status by 2030 and expanding computing power to 180,000 PFLOPS by 2032.
- Operationalization of key institutions, including the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy and the 2026 launch of the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute.
- Execution of a comprehensive AI risk-governance strategy covering legal liability for AI accidents, guidelines for AI agents, ethical risk assessments, and minor protection.
Businesses, technology developers, research institutions, and legal professionals operating in or expanding to Hong Kong SAR face an evolving regulatory and infrastructural landscape for artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at the 2026 World Internet Conference (WIC) Ministerial Meeting in Wuzhen on November 3, 2026, Hong Kong's Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, detailed the HKSAR Government's strategic roadmap for AI development and risk governance.
Under Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, promulgated in September 2026, the HKSAR Government aims to establish the city as an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre rooted in the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area by 2030. To support this vision, Hong Kong's computing power currently stands at 5,000 PFLOPS, with full-speed construction underway on the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster to reach 180,000 PFLOPS by 2032. Three primary I&T parks—Cyberport, the Hong Kong Science Park, and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park—currently host over 1,000 AI-related enterprises and start-ups.
To drive industrial transformation, the HKSAR Government has established the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy. In addition, the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute is scheduled to commence operations in 2026 to coordinate downstream research and commercial application matching, while public skills are supported by the "AI for All" Inclusive Programme launched in summer 2026.
Alongside growth initiatives, the HKSAR Government is pursuing a comprehensive AI risk-governance strategy structured around seven key areas:
1. Combating AI-related crime;
2. Strengthening protection for minors;
3. Promoting market assessment of AI ethical risks;
4. Promoting safe and orderly AI adoption across industries;
5. Studying legal liability for AI-related accidents;
6. Issuing guidelines for managing AI agents; and
7. Examining the employment impact of AI.
As Hong Kong positions itself as a connector within the Greater Bay Area and globally, market participants should monitor upcoming regulatory developments, including forthcoming guidelines on AI agents and legal liability framework studies.
Who May Be Affected
AI enterprises, technology start-ups, research institutions, and commercial users of AI operating in or exporting services to Hong Kong SAR and the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area.
Cross-Border Context
Hong Kong SAR positions itself as a 'super connector' and 'super value-adder' in the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area, seeking international collaboration on AI governance and technology integration.
What to check next
- Monitor formal publications by the HKSAR Government regarding guidelines for managing AI agents.
- Track studies and legislative updates regarding legal liability for AI-related accidents in Hong Kong SAR.
- Follow the operational commencement of the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute later in 2026.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.