Privacy Commissioner’s Office Welcomes Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address

Privacy Commissioner's Office
Welcomes Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) warmly welcomes the Honourable Chief Executive's announcement of the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026 - 2030) (Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan) and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address (Policy Address), which set out the medium- to long-term strategy for Hong Kong's development, as well as the corresponding policy measures and major projects. The PCPD fully supports the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in leading all sectors of society to fully align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and will make concerted efforts with the HKSAR Government and all sectors of society to ensure that the vision of Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan is effectively implemented, with a view to jointly promoting Hong Kong's high-quality development.

Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address set out a range of measures to accelerate Hong Kong's development into an international innovation and technology centre. The PCPD fully supports the Government's commitment to advancing the AI+ Initiative on all fronts and improving artificial intelligence (AI) and data governance, with a view to putting in place a regulatory framework that is conducive to the development of AI in Hong Kong, while upholding the principle of adopting a holistic approach to development and security. The PCPD will continue to promote the development-governance strategy on AI and facilitate privacy protection in the use of AI, including conducting compliance checks and studies on the use of AI by organisations in Hong Kong; fostering innovation through novel regulatory approaches such as the Safeguarding Personal Data AI Sandbox; issuing and updating practical guidance materials relating to AI; and continuing the promotion of existing guidance and best practices, such as "Protecting Personal Data Privacy in the Use of Agentic AI". At the same time, the PCPD will step up its efforts to promote data security and cybersecurity, including assisting organisations in Hong Kong in enhancing their cybersecurity and data security capabilities through the Data Privacy and Website Security Scan Programme, thereby strengthening the protection of personal data privacy and preventing data breach incidents.

The PCPD also welcomes the Government's promotion in the integrated development of education, technology and talent, with a view to building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talents. With the establishment of the Hong Kong International Data Privacy Academy (Academy) in June this year, the PCPD will strive to gather international data scientists and privacy protection professionals in Hong Kong to meet our needs in technological innovation, industry development and national strategy. Moreover, the Academy will support the "AI for All" Inclusive Programme to enhance the AI literary of the public and promote responsible use of AI.

With regard to deepening international exchanges and co-operation, the PCPD, as the co-chair of the Ethics and Data Protection in AI Working Group and the International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group of the Global Privacy Assembly, will continue to serve as a "super connector" and leverage Hong Kong's international advantages, enhancing the voice and influence of the Country and Hong Kong in areas such as global privacy protection and AI governance, while facilitating the internationalisation of Chinese standards.

In addition, the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, in her capacity as a member of the Hong Kong Expert Group on Cross-boundary Data Collaboration, warmly welcomes the Government's initiatives to promote data flow, usage and secure data sharing in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and to leverage data as a key factor to catalyse the synergised development of the GBA.