HKUST Business School Magazine

As Hong Kong races to cement its status as a global innovation and technology hub, the city’s Digital Policy Office (DPO) is spearheading a sweeping digital transformation across the public sector. Under the leadership of the Commissioner for Digital Policy, Tony Wong, the DPO is driving forward- looking policies and pioneering digital initiatives that are poised to reshape how citizens and businesses interact with the Government. “The key is to put the citizen at the center of our digital strategy,” explained Wong. “By integrating data and workflows across government departments, we can deliver a much more convenient, personalized experience for the public.” A Vision for a Smart City At the heart of this transformation is the vision to make Hong Kong a truly smart city. As Wong emphasized, “Digitization is no longer an option; it’s a matter of life-and-death” for government agencies, just as it is for the private sector. Accordingly, the DPO is taking active steps to transform Hong Kong into a smart city through initiatives aimed at establishing a unified platform that integrates service delivery across government departments, significantly enhancing the citizen experience by minimizing the need for individuals to provide the same information to multiple agencies. Wong explained that by integrating data from various departments, processes will be streamlined, and user experiences will be enhanced through the implementation of a consent-based data exchange gateway, allowing citizens to manage and share their personal data seamlessly. One shining example of this is the launch of the Government’s award- winning iAM Smart platform. “With just a tap, citizens can now manage everything from license renewals to bill payments, without the hassle of remembering multiple passwords or physically visiting government offices,” Wong proudly stated. However, the DPO’s ambition stretches far beyond streamlining routine transactions. The office is also leveraging the power of emerging technologies to enhance core government operations. “We don’t see digitization as merely automating existing processes,” Wong explained. “It’s about fundamentally rethinking how the public sector can better serve the needs of citizens and businesses through technology.” Biz@HKUST 5