Hong Kong to build AI City Brain to drive governance overhaul

It will also be used for public housing and hospital services amongst others.

Hong Kong will build an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven city management system called “AI City Brain” to connect government data across key city services following Chief Executive John Lee’s Policy Address on 16 September.

The integrated city management system will anchor Hong Kong’s upgraded governance framework and link big data across government works, the environment, transportation and emergency response, enabling departments to share and receive real-time information.

A dedicated Task Force on the “AI City Brain” System will be formed to examine and develop the platform. The digital infrastructure of the Security Bureau’s Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre is scheduled for integration in the first phase.

AI will also be deployed to optimise broader public services under the “AI+” initiative, including public rental housing estate management.

The Hospital Authority will use AI to facilitate service arrangements and reduce average triage times.

Drone applications will also be expanded across emergency response and crime prevention to safeguard citizens.

Separately, a water supply network upgrading programme will be launched to replace or rehabilitate 350 kilometres of aged water mains with higher leakage risks over the next five years.

This represents an average rate of 70 kilometres per year, doubling the target for 2026-2027, with an initial focus on Shau Kei Wan, Wong Tai Sin and Kwai Tsing.

An Intelligent Water Network Closed-loop Management Chain will also be established to perform AI predictive maintenance.

Public services under the 1823 hotline will be upgraded to achieve “prompt referral and successful resolution”.

A lead department will be designated and authorised to coordinate inter-departmental service requests and complaints, whilst each department will assign a directorate officer to monitor handling efficiency.

The upgraded 1823 system will use AI to identify recurrent problems for departments to review, shifting government response from post-complaint management to a proactive approach.

The Deputy Chief Secretary will review progress regularly and brief the Steering Committee on District Governance.