The study was conducted by local think tank Youth Ideas. Hongkongers average 6.28, on a scale from 0-10, on their willingness to add innovative technology to their daily lives. It is, according to the report released on Wednesday, not enough.
The “Living with Innovative Technologies and Building a Smart City” study was conducted by Youth Ideas, a local youth think tank established by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. The study surveyed 520 people aged between 15 and 34. Among that number, 168 were younger than 20.
When asked about their reasons for using innovative technology, 92.3 per cent said they did for convenience, and 56.9 per cent said it could fulfil their personal interests. Some were reluctant to use innovative technology because they thought it was not necessary (30.2 per cent), too expensive (22.9 per cent), too complicated to use (18.1 per cent), or because they were afraid their information would be leaked somewhere online or passed on to others (16.9 per cent).
Many of the respondents (72.9 per cent) said they had never heard of the“Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong”, a city development plan announced by the government in December last year to address urban challenges through the use of innovation and technology. They were also unaware that it was an ongoing project.
Most, however, believed making Hong Kong a smart city would improve people’s quality of life (86.5 per cent), 72.1 per cent believed it would increase competitiveness in the city. Around 50 per cent were worried that the move would marginalise some citizens.
The deputy convenor of education and innovation at Youth Ideas Mac Chan said it is vital that the youth have a good understanding of the city’s development.
Edited by Nicole Moraleda