Letters | By going digital, Hong Kong can shape the future trade landscape

Readers discuss what Hong Kong should focus on as it seeks to develop the digital economy, and tech glitches when using government platforms

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Containers are stacked at the Kwai Chung Container Terminal on March 30. As Hong Kong lays down its digital economy strategy, trade is an area that needs attention. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Published: 11:30am, 27 Apr 2024

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We write concerning the Digital Economy Development Committee’s 12 recommendations released earlier this month. Hong Kong has been without an overarching digital economy strategy while its peers move ahead, so the report is extremely timely, if not overdue.

To be fair, an early blueprint does not guarantee success. And perhaps a late start will allow us to benefit from others’ lessons and to proceed with more focus.

We think the focus should be on areas of strength where business readiness is high, notably finance and trade and logistics which together account for about 45 per cent of the city’s gross domestic product.

On finance, we are in good hands with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s fintech strategy launched in 2021. On trade, Hong Kong made a decent start with the trade single window, updated in its second phase last May.

But today trade is being driven by new factors which weren’t around when the single window was conceived.