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Letters | Hong Kong budget: how far towards smart city goals?

  • While measures to nurture IT talent are to be applauded, e-government must keep the elderly in mind
  • Meanwhile, Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of building data infrastructure for a smart city

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A woman uses a smartphone along Victoria Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui on April 29, 2019. The financial secretary has announced a raft of measures to boost information and technology in Hong Kong. Photo: Bloomberg
Letters
I would like to comment on the innovation and technology aspects of the latest Hong Kong budget.
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First, the programmes to nurture information and technology talent, including “Knowing More About IT” for primary schools, and regularising the scheme to subsidise local university students’ enrolment in information and technology-related internships, are welcome steps towards upgrading IT competency.

Second, e-government for the elderly. It will become possible for all government forms and licence applications to be submitted electronically and e-payment will be available for most government bills and licences by mid-2022.  However, we should not ignore those without internet access; nearly 35 per cent of the elderly aged 65 and over do not have a smartphone. 

Third, commercialisation of research. There will be increased financial support for start-ups, including HK$550 million for the Science and Technology Park and Cyberport and HK$4.75 billion annually over the next two years to support the work of multiple research and development laboratories: another welcome move.

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What Hong Kong’s 2021-22 budget means for residents of the city

What Hong Kong’s 2021-22 budget means for residents of the city
Fourth, data infrastructure for a smart city. Several long-term problems were exposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, with issues with sewage pipes in “three-nil” buildings – i.e. those without owners’ corporations, residents’ organisations or property management companies – having given rise to widespread concern. The budget has allocated HK$1 billion for maintaining these. However, given that there are some 5,300 of these buildings, the funding is obviously inadequate for each.
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