Hong Kong is set to give a boost to digital infratructure, as it seeks to kickstart growth back in a pandemic-hit economy.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po in his Budget address said: “To boost digital infrastructure, the government will press ahead with fifth-generation (5G) telecommunications by supporting the development of networks and applications, releasing more 5G spectrums in different frequency bands and facilitating the setup of radio base stations. The government will relocate satellite stations in Tai Po and provide land at Chung Hom Kok Teleport for the development of infrastructure for external telecommunications facilities.”

AI Push

Further the Hong Kong government will launch 20 tech and AI laboratories.

The first 20 laboratories, formed under the InnoHK Research Clusters for health technologies and artificial intelligence, located at the Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin, will begin operations in the first quarter of this year, Chan said.

He also added that HK$4.8 billion will be injected to the Innovation and Technology Fund annually in the coming two years to support the 17 schemes it backs and the work of over 50 research and development laboratories.

InnoCell, a smart living and co-creation space next to the Science Park, was completed last year and could provide around 500 residential spaces for research personnel at the park. Leasing activities would commence and a trial run held in the first half of this year, he said.

Governments across Asia such as Singapore and Korea have put in place strategies to push digital infrastructure, as COVID-19 has forced businesses to adopt new ways of doing business.