Letters | Hong Kong’s laissez-faire attitude to open data is not a smart approach
- Policymakers’ assumptions that publicising data alone will yield benefits and the public can make use of open data are not backed by evidence
- Government departments must not use data from private companies as it is not as precise and professional as the government’s
Wilson Wong, director of data science and policy studies at Chinese University of Hong Kong, has pointed out that many policymakers believe the myth that publicising data will automatically yield benefits and that every constituent can make use of open data. However, the findings of a survey of Hongkongers’ views on open data shows that less than 40 per cent of people have heard of “open data”, reflecting the public’s low awareness of the issue and casting doubt on policymakers’ beliefs.
Apart from people’s low awareness of open data, many civil servants also are not conversant with data. For example, an interactive map released by a government department used map information from a private company instead of from the government, such as the map and location search application programming interfaces provided through the Hong Kong Geodata Store by the Lands Department.
It seems that the information from private companies can sufficiently replace those from official sources. However, content from private companies is usually linked to advertisements, and the data is not as professional and precise as the government’s.
For program developers, the data of private companies lacks major analysis functions such as geographic data filtering and key statistics display. Using this data gives the impression that the government is as easily satisfied as an amateur user.
That is why the newly launched Geospatial Lab has a big role to play as one of its main tasks is to promote professional geographic information to the public.
The government, on the other hand, should strengthen training internally and consider setting clear, hard targets to formulate guidelines for using geographic information. For example, the Singapore government requires all ministries to try out artificial intelligence for policymaking in its bid to promote the application of advanced technologies.
The government should not continue its laissez-faire policy. Otherwise, it will be difficult to make the best use of our open data, which will be a major driving force of the new economy.
Dr Winnie Tang, adjunct professor, faculties of Engineering, Social Sciences, and Architecture, University of Hong Kong
