Hong Kong’s high-quality economic development will be guided by its first five-year blueprint and the coming policy address, with artificial intelligence (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 an AI-powered future.
“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”, is primarily sponsored by Manulife.
At the event, publisher Tammy Tam announced the SCMP will host a China Conference in Kazakhstan’s capital in September, after the chief executive led a high-level Hong Kong delegation to Central Asia last month, marking the first such event organised by a local media outlet in the region.
The Tuesday conference, which spanned seven sessions, drew about 500 attendants, with local and overseas business leaders and regulators as speakers.