Technology alone won’t turn Hong Kong into a smart city

Wendell Chan says if the city is to be a role model, the government must remember that sound urban planning, and truly smart air and water policies are necessary

Reading Time:2 minutes

A smart city should contain elements of a smart economy, and consider mobility, the environment, people, living and governance. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:53am, 18 Dec 2015Updated: 11:53am, 18 Dec 2015

One of the aims of the new Innovation and Technology Bureau is to help turn Hong Kong into the leading smart city in the region. While this aim is welcome, the government must also remember that a smart city is made up of more than just technology.

A sustainable city, digital city, eco-city, green city, liveable city and knowledge city are all forms of smart cities, but they are also very different from one another. A smart city should contain elements of a smart economy, and consider mobility, the environment, people, standard of living and governance. This is in line with the UN’s concept in which smart cities should be “inclusive, resilient, safe, sustainable and more connected”.

READ MORE: A new tech bureau can help Hong Kong get on board the smart-city trend

We need an eco-smart city. Vancouver, for example, has a plan to transform itself into the world’s “greenest city” by 2020. It lists 10 goals, from reducing per capita water consumption by 33 per cent to cutting waste disposal by 50 per cent. These objectives cannot be met solely through technological changes, but with a combination of urban planning, policy implementation and behavioural change. Smart city development is also vital for climate mitigation and adaptation measures.

Hong Kong can learn from successful cases around the world. The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a network of more than 75 cities, including Hong Kong, committed to addressing climate change. In particular, it facilitates dialogue on innovative action.

Electricity generation for buildings accounts for over 60 per cent of Hong Kong’s greenhouse gas emissions. And what can we do about air pollution? Photo: Felix Wong

Technology alone won’t turn Hong Kong into a smart city

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Wendell Chan says if the city is to be a role model, the government must remember that sound urban planning, and truly smart air and water policies are necessary

READ MORE: To promote smart cities, governments should get out of the way

Wendell Chan says if the city is to be a role model, the government must remember that sound urban planning, and truly smart air and water policies are necessary