In an effort to promote smart city development, Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary stated that the Innovation & Technology Bureau will adopt measures this year set out in the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0.
The bureau will also launch the iAM Smart one-stop personalised digital service platform in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Through this free of charge platform, the public will have the ability to access more than 100 online services by the middle of next year.
As part of the Government’s smart city mission, the Financial Secretary explained that $1 billion will be earmarked for the Smart Traffic Fund.
The fund, which is expected to start operation in 2020-21, aims to support enterprises or organisations to conduct research and develop applications for vehicle-related I&T.
A high-quality city-wide 3D digital map will also be rolled out in phases starting this year, while the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure Portal is set for full operation by the end of 2022.
An extra $60 million will be designated for setting up the city’s first Geospatial Lab. This lab will encourage the public to make use of the spatial data.
The Development Bureau has been actively promoting the digitisation of the works supervision system. Starting from this year’s second quarter, all public works projects will adopt the system in phases.
To enhance project supervision, the finance chief will allocate $100 million to develop an integrated digital platform for data integration and information exchange.
The Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0
The HKSAR government of Hong Kong aims to build the city into a world-class smart city, through adopting the measures set out in the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong.
The government’s policy objectives to pursue smart city development are to:
(a) make use of innovation and technology (I&T) to address urban challenges, enhance the effectiveness of city management and improve people’s quality of living as well as Hong Kong’s sustainability, efficiency and safety;
(b) enhance Hong Kong’s attractiveness to global businesses and talents; and
(c) inspire continuous city innovation and sustainable economic development.
Under its Smart Mobility agenda, the aim is to integrate existing applications (HKeTransport, HKeRouting and eTraffic News) into an all-in-one mobile app.
The government also aims to complete the installation of about 1,200 traffic detectors in all strategic roads to provide real-time traffic information by 2020.
Starting from 2021, the government will introduce pilot intelligent traffic signal systems with sensors for pedestrians and vehicles at road junctions.
Moreover, they will adopt an automatic tolling system without toll booths for the new Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel in the light of findings of field trials and subject to the approval of the Legislative Council on the necessary legislative amendments by 2021.
Public transport operators are being encouraged to open up their data, pilot the use of technology to deter improper use of loading and unloading bays and illegal parking from 2018, and explore the use of crowd management system at Kai Tak Sports Park by the management authority to facilitate the monitoring of people and vehicle flows during major events.
Looking forward, the aim is to continue to explore and formulate initiatives to:
- alleviate traffic congestion and tackle other traffic management and enforcement issues through wider use of technology
- facilitate the achievement of technology advancement and industry development in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and autonomous vehicles (AV) and ultimately the introduction of AV with integrated Internet access
- enhance walkability and pedestrian wayfinding system
Hence, the new injection of funding will enable these objectives to be achieved faster and will enable the government to meet its Smart City goals.