Reform and innovation in its governance model are required for Hong Kong to achieve high-quality development. To societies of the digital age, running predominantly with technology, big data is of utmost importance. Thus, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government should first ensure the formulation of a big data policy. What is a big data policy? Simply put, there are several aspects to it, which can be broken down into a couple of levels.
First and foremost, the operation system of the government must be fully digitized and computerized. The HKSAR government is still technically a “paper-based government”, i.e., hard-copy documentation is generally required in the processes of dealing with regulations. This traditional operation model and records management system was in favor some three decades ago. Now, rules for mandating hardcopy documentation are scattered throughout various government regulations. There is a need to consolidate them into one by necessitating full digitization of all government documents. Digitization of civil records has already been implemented in many places such as the United Kingdom, Singapore and the Chinese mainland, where electronic verification is commonly accepted. Unfortunately, the HKSAR government is still paper-based. That has resulted in a tremendous waste of paper. For example, tenderers must submit tender documents as hard copies to the tender box in person. Government departments will only ascertain those documents if they are printed in accordance with the required specifications. This indicates a governance model of “low quality” with low efficacy; reform is therefore necessary.
Regrettably, it appears that the HKSAR government has no plans to kickstart any reform for the digitization of government documents and other forms of application procedures. Even penalty tickets are to be printed on the spot by traffic wardens. It is absurd for officers on patrol to carry a small printer in order to issue tickets.
Second, the HKSAR government needs to put substantial strategies in place to manage data and digital records. At the moment Hong Kong lacks a comprehensive data storage framework. Every government department hires a number of contractors via its procurement system, and has the data dispersed in different storage locations. Data management requires long-term recordkeeping and infrastructure. The government needs to centralize data storage and processing, or even develop tactics for research and development and lay the foundations for a digital strategy, such as gathering economic statistics, census and statistics for better use. This in turn will support the government in formulating more appropriate policies and facilitate coordination and policies for the short-, medium- and long-term.
The government still lacks a comprehensive scheme for big data. The Data Technology Hub in Tseung Kwan O InnoPark is merely a leasing project under the guise of “data”. It lacks indicators for long-term planning as well as specific objectives which would pave the way toward the end game. The current decentralized approach of the government toward data management greatly weakens its governance effectiveness and the potential for enhancing social development.
Big data should be treated as resources for future economic, cultural and social development. When the government acknowledges its autonomy to establish platforms and data ecosystems, it will be able to comprehend the latest development trend. That will assist the government in developing a governance model of “high-quality” and efficacy. In the meantime, the government can also collaborate with mainland enterprises such as Alibaba, Tencent and Huawei to build a public local data park which directly reports to the government. Present-day outsourcing has brought many privacy and security issues which will jeopardize national security. Since 2019 it has been apparent there are plenty of loopholes and privacy risks looming over the internet, which have become concerning and are issues that need to be addressed. However, the government has not yet prepared any schedule for mending and tackling.
Third, legislation for the use of data is essential. How could big data be leveraged to develop the data economy? The government always talks about “growing its digital economy” while developing the data economy. Without legislation to complement the development plan, it is empty talk. Empty talk is not uncommon in Hong Kong, as numerous seminars are held to engage different stakeholders in conversation. Nevertheless, hosting data economy conferences does not necessarily equate to becoming a data economy. A substantive plan with a practicable schedule and checklist is vital. This includes organizing big data for land, private and public real estate, transportation, logistics, health and medical care, mass communications media, the cultural and creative industries, sports and related activities, and tourism for enhancing governance and management.
Fourth, the government needs to consider how to formulate data/digital policies that can keep up with the times. The Hong Kong government can learn from mainland data economy enterprises that are listed in Hong Kong and which possess experience overseas and in the data economy. Sharing experience within the network can assist Hong Kong in amassing technological capabilities to develop open and diverse big data. The government can also cooperate with tertiary institutions and engage academics in research and the process of devising plans to contribute to Hong Kong’s data economy.
Fifth, if Hong Kong wants to achieve high-quality development, it must establish infrastructure for big data. One of the primary concerns for big data infrastructure is where to build and keep the server clusters, and this must be addressed first. Some of the concerned departments of the Hong Kong government may need to put together a team of high caliber professionals, which will be able to deliver and maintain an ecosystem of servers that can meet national standards of security. Otherwise, as the servers are dispersed among regions, can their construction truly play a proactive role in development? It is imperative that these infrastructures are built to ensure both national security and the effectiveness of the overall development plan. In this regard, the government must formulate a big data policy, and then figure out the charting of physical servers.
For example, URBTIX, the ticketing system managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and the transportation data managed by the Transport Department, have always employed different contractors to supply local servers. Can the data stored on these servers be organized and merged into one big comprehensive set of useful data? The databases of size acquired by URBIX and the Transport Department over the past few decades could serve perfectly as resources for research examining the relationship and changes among local transportation, sports and cultural activities, and consumer behavior.
Sixth, to set a tone for the big data policy, the government needs to amend the provisions in the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance that are not in line with current technological needs. It is necessary for the policymaker to strike a balance between privacy and transparency. The European Union, the US, and Chinese mainland have all issued documents to amend and update their policies, whereas Hong Kong remains at the level of constantly holding seminars. A definitive research plan and a schedule for implementation for legal reform must not be evaded any further. As a matter of fact, that is what we need right now.
Seventh, there is also the issue of singularity in the manpower who manage software. Hardware is run with software that is operated by talents who understand big data. Currently, big data talents are inclined to work in the banking and financial industries because their jobs require them to handle large amounts of data related to the financial industry. But along with the growth of artificial intelligence, as various new data-based innovations and technology develop, how can human resources be prepared? The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Hong Kong, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong all have experts and talents with rich experience in innovation and technology. They should take the lead to sketch out the advancement of human resources for Hong Kong’s future big data economy.
Innovation and technology have one sole distinguishing characteristic, i.e., different types of technology will yield to different functions. Each of those functions must be taken into consideration for planning and analyses. This, however, must go hand-in-hand with international and national policies. For Hong Kong to maintain its competitiveness, it must attain or even outdo both international and national standards, thereby making “one country, two systems” the city’s advantage while being run as a special administrative region.
The author is a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies and artistic director of the experimental theater company Zuni Icosahedron.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.