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Lo Hoi-ying

Hong Kong will begin recruitment for an artificial intelligence (AI) commissioner in the second quarter of next year to assist in drafting policies for the technology and risk governance, with authorities confident the city does not lack suitable talent.
Tech authorities on Friday revealed details of the new post under the Digital Policy Office, which will pay between HK$262,125 and HK$278,200 (US$33,414 to US$35,436) a month.
Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Kevin Choi Kit-ming said that recruitment for the post would begin in the second quarter of 2027.
“Their job scope will include providing their expertise and advice on various AI-related activities,” Choi said at a press briefing.
In his policy address on Wednesday, city leader John Lee Ka-chiu said that the commissioner was expected to take up the role next year and would oversee seven key areas of AI risk governance.
These include combating AI-related crimes, such as deepfake porn and online scams, and empowering authorities to remove online content linked to financial fraud.

Choi said the commissioner was also expected to be familiar with developments in the AI industry, including risk governance, global trends, its impact on public administration and its application in local industries.
Choi, who is responsible for the recruitment, said the commissioner would be hired in a recruitment exercise open to both the private and public sectors.
“I deeply believe that the development of AI in Hong Kong is not bad, so we are not worried about a lack of suitable candidates,” he said.
Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan and latest policy address placed a heavy focus on AI as a main driver of the city’s industrial transformation. “Artificial intelligence” appeared more than 190 times in the policy address alone.
Four pages were dedicated to the use of AI across eight industries to boost Hong Kong’s role as an international innovation and technology centre, including taking forward the ‘AI-plus’ initiative, a concept championed by China to integrate the technology into every sector of the economy and society.
Authorities will consult the public on strengthening the legal framework surrounding the technology and improving the detection of AI-generated fraudulent content.
The government will also review whether existing laws adequately address liability for accidents or damage caused by AI products, promote market assessment of ethical risks, step up protection for minors using the technology and ensure they use it with the proper values.
Regarding the timeline for regulating deepfake AI crimes, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok noted that the cybercrime subcommittee under the Law Reform Commission was reviewing the laws, but he was unable to give a “concrete timeline” for the reform.
“Because the [commission] is an independent body comprising members from different industries, it is difficult to state definitively when a final report will be completed,” he said.
However, Lam said he understood public concerns about deepfakes, especially those involving the generation of sexual images or used in fraud. He said he would urge the commission to complete its study as soon as possible.
The new laws would incorporate maximum flexibility to prevent legislation from becoming obsolete as AI technology evolved, he added.
“Many existing laws use technology-neutral language. For example, fraud offences focus on the intent to deceive using tools, regardless of whether those tools are primitive or advanced,” he said.
Flexible “soft laws,” such as industry codes of conduct and public education, could be employed alongside legal measures, Lam added.


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Post will pay up to HK$278,200 per month, authorities reveal, adding they also understand public concerns over bolstering cybercrime laws


Post will pay up to HK$278,200 per month, authorities reveal, adding they also understand public concerns over bolstering cybercrime laws.


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Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau

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Hong Kong to recruit AI chief by mid-2027, with confidence in local talent pool

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Post will pay up to HK$278,200 per month, authorities reveal, adding they also understand public concerns over bolstering cybercrime laws

Post will pay up to HK$278,200 per month, authorities reveal, adding they also understand public concerns over bolstering cybercrime laws