HK tech chief cancels US visit for Consumer Electronics Show 2026 and Silicon Valley meetings

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Sun Dong, has canceled his planned six-day visit to the United States on Tuesday, following an initial announcement made at noon that he was scheduled to attend the Consumer Electronics Show 2026 (CES 2026) in Las Vegas. 

The government earlier stated that Sun would start his visit to Las Vegas and San Franscio on January 6, California time. Besides CES 2026, he was expected to take part in the Hong Kong Tech Networking Reception, co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation. 

He was also set to attend a New Year gathering for members of the Hong Kong community organized by the same office. 

Sun planned to travel to Silicon Valley to visit local technology enterprises and a university as part of efforts to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the US innovation sector.

He was scheduled to return to Hong Kong on Sunday, January 11. During his absence, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Lillian Cheong Man-lei will serve as Acting Secretary. 

The government’s cancellation announcement was made at 4.20 pm, around four hours after the initial statement was issued.

The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, in response to inquiries, stated that the government has been dynamically assessing the appropriateness of officials' overseas visits and decided to cancel after evaluation.

(Updated at 8.23pm)