Innovation chief says main aim is to improve administrative processes, not reduce costs, and urges public not to equate AI use with job cuts

The Hong Kong government has picked three key departments to trial the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency without incurring additional cost, the innovation chief has said, urging the public not to equate the use of the technology with job cuts.

Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong made the announcement on Saturday as he revealed that the Companies Registry, Transport Department and Buildings Department would be the three pilot departments tasked with applying AI to administrative procedures.

In his policy address last week, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that a high-level AI Efficacy Enhancement Team would be set up, led by senior officials and including private sector experts, to steer a citywide digital transformation and offer advice and solutions to various government departments.

Under the sweeping plan, at least 200 administrative procedures will incorporate AI by the end of 2027 in a bid to boost efficiency and create a more responsive, tech-driven bureaucracy. AI tools will be deployed across 100 procedures in 2026 alone, tackling areas from data analysis and customer service to speeding up the approval of licences and permits.

As the team's deputy leader, Sun said it conducted an initial review of AI applications across various government departments.

"We have essentially reached agreements with these three departments. For example, the Companies Registry spends a lot of time and manpower annually processing new company registration applications and annual review reports. We hope to use AI to help increase efficiency and shorten processing times," he said.

"These three departments can be said to represent the government's future development direction towards facilitating public convenience and boosting business, which is a major governance goal."

Hong Kong picks 3 departments to trial use of AI to raise government efficiency