April 14, 2026
By Shubhii Verma
Hong Kong has signed an important agreement with mainland China to work together on growing the digital economy. The agreement, called a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), focuses on key areas like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technology, and smoother cross-border data sharing.
The MOU was signed by Sun Dong, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, and Wang Jingtao, Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). The signing was witnessed by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and CAC Director Zhuang Rongwen. This agreement supports China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, which will guide the country’s economic and social development from 2026 to 2030.
Through this partnership, Hong Kong aims to strengthen its position as an international centre for innovation and technology (I&T). The deal is also expected to help the city build a new, technology-driven economy and become more closely connected with national development goals.
John Lee said the agreement marks a major step forward in cooperation between Hong Kong and mainland China in the digital sector. He highlighted that Hong Kong benefits from the “one country, two systems” principle, which allows it to stay closely linked to both China and the global market. According to Lee, this advantage will help the city promote better data flow across borders, especially within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.
The Greater Bay Area is a major national project aimed at turning Hong Kong, Macau, and nine cities in Guangdong province into a powerful, connected economic and business region. Improved data exchange and digital cooperation are seen as key to making this vision successful.
Lee also mentioned that the Hong Kong government plans to attract top international technology talent and align its own development plans with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. The city will prepare its own strategy to support innovation, technology growth, and digital transformation.
The MOU was signed just before the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit in Hong Kong. Lee said the city would use this global event to showcase its digital strengths, attract foreign investment, and build more international partnerships in innovation and technology.
Overall, this agreement shows strong cooperation between Hong Kong and mainland China and highlights their shared focus on developing advanced technologies and a stronger digital economy in the coming years.
