News

Tech infrastructure critical to Hong Kong smart city development

Hong Kong’s development of its technology infrastructure will be a key factor in its development as a smart city by 2030, according to 47% of executives who were polled in a survey commissioned by KPMG. The survey, “Future Hong Kong 2030”, analyses the steps to help optimise Hong Kong’s development as a smart city and was published by KPMG China. It was undertaken by YouGov. It looks at the internal and external factors playing a part in the smart city transformation over the coming decade, and the roles that effective governance, smart infrastructure and innovation can play in addressing key urban challenges. During this timeframe, respondents identified the following as top priorities for enabling Hong Kong’s smart city development:
  • Future-focused government regulation and policy (48%);
  • Development of technology infrastructure (47%);
  • Public and private sector support for innovation and the start-up ecosystem (38%);
  • Access to qualified talent/workforce (34%); and
  • Hong Kong’s liveability and amenities (30%).
“For Hong Kong to realise its smart city goals, we need to pay attention to having a workforce that is fit for the future,” said Alan Yau, head of real estate, Hong Kong at KPMG China. Yau says corporates and schools should team up to identify these skills and help develop them in students at an earlier age. “If corporates want to help students grow and become more innovative, and ultimately develop talent with the right skills, they need to get involved a lot more at a junior level,” added Yau. Survey respondents comprised 430 executives from business, not-for-profit organisations, government and academic institutions. Of those who were polled, 64% have been working in Hong Kong for more than 10 years and 71% of the companies were headquartered there. © 2020 funds global asia

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