bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Kimmy Chung

Hong Kong must digitise its governance and release more data to transform itself into a “smart city”, according to Alibaba chief Jack Ma.
The founder of the world’s largest e-commerce platform told local lawmakers and four top officials visiting the firm’s headquarters in Hangzhou on Wednesday that in the modern world data was like “golden sand”.
The 22-legislator delegation was wrapping up a four-day trip to the eastern city as well as Shanghai.
Liberal Party leader Felix Chung Kwok-pan quoted Ma as saying the future of any urban centre lay in so-called big data.
“He said Hong Kong has much data to make use of but we fail to utilise it,” Chung said. “He saw gold sand running away when we should instead be gathering it to build a golden tower.”

Members of the group were briefed on the tech giant’s City Brain projects, which use real-time data to enhance urban planning. In Hangzhou, Alibaba works with the local government to improve road accident reporting systems and reduce travel times. Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post.
Chung said Ma had argued that Hong Kong’s international status was becoming blurred.
Alibaba founder Jack Ma says companies forcing staff to work overtime are ‘foolish’
“Hong Kong should position itself as an international city, building its network with the international community, and not just as another mainland city,” the lawmaker for the textile and garment sector quoted Ma as saying.
Lawmaker Elizabeth Quat, chairwoman of the legislature’s IT panel, said Ma had urged the Legislative Council to push officials to build an “e-government” focused on innovation and technology.
The process of opening up data and developing digital services had been hindered by a lack of collaboration among departments, Quat said.

The lawmakers’ mainland visit was boycotted by pro-democracy legislators who said the political atmosphere had soured because of a Hong Kong government proposal to allow the transfer of fugitives to jurisdictions the city lacks an extradition deal with, including mainland China, Macau and Taiwan.
Some legislators argued the rule of law was questionable on the mainland and the plan left Hongkongers at risk of being victimised across the border.
Alibaba’s Jack Ma defends China’s 996 schedule as tech workers protest against long working hours
Constitutional and mainland affairs minister Patrick Nip Tak-kuen on Sunday expressed disappointment at the boycott before embarking on the trip himself. On Wednesday he said both the Hong Kong and central governments welcomed greater communication with lawmakers.
Another delegation is expected to visit Beijing for October 1 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic. Asked if all pro-democracy lawmakers would be invited, Nip said: “If the legislature has such a request, the government would welcome and support it.”
He added that officials would discuss the issue with Beijing.


China’s AI boom fuels solopreneurs as 1-person businesses flourish in tough job market

Jakarta vs the internet: Indonesia’s gamble with digital freedom

November’s hottest watch moments, from Lady Becks’ Patek Philippe to Dubai Watch Week and GPHG winners

AI is already taking jobs in Southeast Asia. Next comes a ‘great divergence’, UN warns

Technology

Alibaba boss Jack Ma urges Hong Kong to digitise governance in smart city push, saying data is like ‘golden sand’

Chairman of Alibaba Group Jack Ma is seen in October 2018. Photo: AP

The Legislative Council joint-Panel delegation continued the duty visit Alibaba. POOL PHOTO

Legislative Council president Andrew Leung (left) with Alibaba founder Jack Ma on Wednesday. Photo: Pool

Alibaba founder Jack Ma says companies forcing staff to work overtime are ‘foolish’

Billionaire Jack Ma has again weighed in on the Chinese tech industry’s gruelling overtime work culture. Photo: Xinhua

Alibaba’s Jack Ma defends China’s 996 schedule as tech workers protest against long working hours

Jack Ma, Alibaba founder, arrives for a forum of the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai on November 5, 2018. Photo: Reuters

Jack Ma attends the 2018 Rural Teacher Awards launched by the Jack Ma Foundation in Sanya city, south China's Hainan province, 13 January 2019. Photo Imaginechina

Hainan must overtake Hong Kong on international  trade in digital age, Alibaba’s Jack Ma Yun says

(170904) -- XIAMEN, Sept. 4, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Ning Gaoning, chairman of the board of Sinochem Group, speaks at a panel discussion on blue economy during the BRICS Business Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 4, 2017. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) (wyl)

***ONE TIME USE ONLY*** DG408N Sanya City, Hainan Island, Guangdong, China, Asia

Jack Ma has been named a special adviser to the island of Hainan. Photo: Bloomberg

News

Hong Kong

Politics


Lawmakers and officials visit tech giant’s headquarters where Ma tells delegation Hong Kong should build on its network with the international community



Lawmakers and officials visit tech giant’s headquarters in Hangzhou where Ma tells delegation Hong Kong should build on its network with the international community.
