The government has implemented a multi-pronged data governance strategy
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has provided a response to the question raised regarding data governance and the promotion of the digital economy. Here is a summary of the response:
The government acknowledges the importance of data governance and its role in promoting the development of the digital economy. Data governance includes various elements such as data consolidation, application, opening, sharing, and security. The government has implemented a multi-pronged data governance strategy, including policies, administrative guidance, and technical infrastructure. Existing policies and guidance cover areas such as open data, security regulations, ethical development, and use of artificial intelligence, and more. The government is also exploring ways to strengthen the data governance system through legislation to facilitate data exchange, digital economy, and smart city development while ensuring data safety and compliance with relevant laws.
The government has been actively promoting the collection and interflow of data among government departments and different sectors. Initiatives include the Open Data Policy, which has resulted in over 5,160 datasets being made available for free use by the public, with approximately 50 billion downloads in 2022. The Big Data Analytics Platform supports government departments in sharing non-personal data and implementing data-driven e-government services. The Next Generation Government Cloud Infrastructure enables data interchange among government systems, and the Consented Data Exchange Gateway (CDEG) is being developed to facilitate data interchange within the government and with the industry, with a target rollout before the end of 2024.
The government recognizes the importance of data governance and openness. The Global Data Barometer report ranked Hong Kong third in Asia in terms of the overall score. While Hong Kong has achieved good results in data openness, there is room for enhancing data governance. The government aims to strike a balance between data openness and governance and will strengthen its work in this area. Policy measures and objectives will be formulated to support the development of the digital economy and smart city, ensuring citizens can benefit from technology and smart living solutions.
In summary, the Hong Kong government acknowledges the importance of data governance, is actively promoting data collection and sharing, and will continue to enhance data governance to support the digital economy and smart city development.
