Shanghai and Hong Kong Hold First Annual Meeting on Digital Economy Co‑operation

Officials from Hong Kong and Shanghai met on 12 April 2026 for the first annual meeting of the Working Group on Shanghai and Hong Kong Digital Co-operation, reviewing progress under their Memorandum of Understanding on Digital Economy Co-operation. The meeting assessed developments in digital government, data collaboration and innovation partnerships over the past year, while setting priorities for further collaboration. According to the official announcement, the initiative aims to strengthen cross-boundary digital services, support technology-driven economic activity and deepen institutional links between the two cities.

Joint Working Group Reviews Year of Digital Collaboration

The meeting in Hong Kong was co-chaired by the Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, and the Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data, Mr Qian Xiao. Representatives from government agencies, data organisations and industry groups from both cities also participated.

Participants reviewed the progress made since the Memorandum of Understanding was signed in April 2025. Discussions focused on how collaboration between the two economies could support innovation and technology development while strengthening digital public services and cross-boundary data initiatives.

Six Priority Areas for Co-operation

The working group assessed progress across six areas designed to deepen digital and innovation ties between the two cities.

• Digital economy development: Promoting complementary growth between Hong Kong and Shanghai’s digital sectors.
• Digital identity authentication: Advancing interoperability between identity systems used in both jurisdictions.
• Cross-boundary public services: Expanding digital services that benefit residents and businesses operating across the two cities.
• Digital infrastructure collaboration: Strengthening exchanges on infrastructure supporting data and digital platforms.
• Innovation and technology talent exchange: Encouraging academic, research and industry collaboration to develop digital capabilities.
• Industry collaboration platforms: Supporting shared spaces and networks that facilitate technology partnerships.

Progress on Digital Identity, Data and Industry Collaboration

Officials highlighted several initiatives completed or underway over the past year. These include technical connections between Hong Kong’s iAM Smart digital identity platform and Shanghai’s Government Online-Offline portal and the Suishenban mobile application. The integration is intended to support more seamless digital authentication for users accessing services across the two jurisdictions.

Preparatory work has also been completed for the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2026, while the Shanghai Electronic Certificate Authority has joined Hong Kong’s Digital Corporate Identity Sandbox Programme to study possible mutual recognition arrangements for digital corporate identities.

Industry engagement has also expanded. Five enterprises have established operations in Hong Kong through the Service Station for Outbound Data Ecology (Hong Kong). Meanwhile, the Shanghai-Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Industry Acceleration Alliance has supported member companies exploring opportunities in Mainland China and international markets.

Expanding Cross-Boundary Digital Services

Looking ahead, both sides discussed plans to deepen collaboration in several areas, including cross-boundary public services, the application of artificial intelligence in civil services and arrangements to facilitate the cross-boundary flow of personal information.

These priorities align with Hong Kong’s wider push to strengthen digital capabilities and research capacity, including initiatives such as the AI research institute supporting digital innovation. They also complement efforts to expand the city’s technology workforce and data capabilities through programmes focused on skills development in AI, data and emerging technologies.

Officials at the meeting emphasised the role of continued institutional collaboration between government, industry and academia in supporting the development of the digital economy. The working group is expected to continue coordinating initiatives under the memorandum to support deeper integration of digital services and technology ecosystems between Hong Kong and Shanghai.