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Hong Kong economy
Hong KongPolitics

No plans to let Hong Kong officials use ChatGPT, minister says, pointing to limited access, possible risks

  • Technology minister Sun Dong says government ‘so far has no plan to introduce its formal application for internal use’
  • City authorities to keep close eye on popular AI-based tool given it presents tremendous opportunities and challenges, he adds

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Hong Kong has no plans to introduce ChatGPT for internal government use, a minister has said. Photo: Shutterstock
Cannix Yau
Hong Kong has no plans to formally introduce ChatGPT for internal government use, the city’s technology minister has said, citing its potential risks and limited access as he made his stance clear on the controversial software.
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But authorities would also keep a close eye on the popular artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool since it presented tremendous opportunities and challenges for the world, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong on Friday said.

“We’ve noticed that some countries have temporarily banned the application of relevant tools due to their concerns about privacy protection,” he told reporters after attending the Digital Economy Summit, a two-day mega event organised to promote the innovation and technology (I&T) sector.

“As for Hong Kong, given the fact that it hasn’t been granted access rights for using ChatGPT by its company OpenAI and the potential risks, the government so far has no plan to introduce its formal application for internal use.”

Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
Sun’s remarks came after China’s internet watchdog on Tuesday unveiled a new set of draft rules covering AI-based tools, joining other governments around the world in attempting to rein in the rapid development of such software.
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Under the proposed regulation published by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), companies in the country that provide generative AI services must take steps to prevent discriminatory subject matter, false information and content that harms personal privacy or intellectual property.

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