(Policy Address 2025) Unlocking AI potential to bolster government operations

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has announced a major push to integrate artificial intelligence across government departments, declaring that AI application is key to radically enhancing public sector efficiency.

The initiative will see the establishment of a high-level AI Efficacy Enhancement Team to drive a technological transformation of the civil service.

The move is inspired by the proven success of AI in several pilot departments.

Lee highlighted the Census and Statistics Department, which now uses AI to examine trade data and retrieve financial information from thousands of listed companies for statistical compilation, resulting in what he described as an "exponential surge in efficiency."

Similarly, the 1823 enquiry services have deployed AI to automatically recognize public voice enquiries and help draft written responses, slashing processing time by approximately 30 percent.

To replicate and scale these successes, the new AI Efficacy Enhancement Team will be tasked with coordinating and steering all government departments.

Its mandate is threefold: to effectively apply AI technology to daily work, explore comprehensive process re-engineering to modernize operations, and promote a culture of technological reform to improve overall efficacy.

The team will be led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, underscoring the initiative's importance. The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry and the Commissioner for Digital Policy will serve as Deputy Leader and Secretary General, respectively.

In a significant move to inject private-sector expertise, a representative from the industry will also be invited to serve as an additional Deputy Leader, bringing new perspectives and frontline market experience.

The team will proactively examine the need for reform within departments, prioritizing those with the greatest public interface.

Individual departments will also be encouraged to initiate requests to the team for prioritized assistance, ensuring a collaborative approach to unlocking new efficiencies and improving government services for all citizens.