https://www.scmp.com/rss/505767/feed Kris Hartley is an assistant professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs at City University of Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The term “smart cities” refers to the use of technology to improve the quality and efficiency of urban public services. Hong Kong’s Smart City Blueprint 2.0 outlines a commitment to becoming a smart city, including in transport, health, education and the environment. With nearly US$200 billion expected to be spent on smart city platforms worldwide this year, it is appropriate to ask whether the idea is worth the price tag. The first generation of “smartness” focused primarily on technology... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3217287/hong-kongs-long-road-being-smart-city-must-be-worth-cost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3217287/hong-kongs-long-road-being-smart-city-must-be-worth-cost?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:15:08 +0000 The Hong Kong government recently cited insufficient mobilisation capacity as the principal reason behind the abandonment of a mass-testing programme for Covid-19. This explanation is half-believable, half-perplexing. On the one hand, administering three Covid-19 tests to every Hong Kong resident in a matter of weeks would have been very costly and required an unprecedented level of coordination and mobilisation of personnel. What to do with positive cases would have been a further issue, as... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3172405/hong-kong-must-rebuild-public-trust-strengthen-its-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3172405/hong-kong-must-rebuild-public-trust-strengthen-its-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Mar 2022 08:44:54 +0000 Technology has fundamentally changed how people connect. Many of us are never offline except when sleeping, and virtual interactions with family, friends and colleagues have come to define our daily routines. Technology is also changing how people interact with their leaders. Governments have long embraced technology and advanced infrastructure to make public service delivery more efficient and effective. They are also looking to social media and other communication platforms as a way to... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3157473/hong-kongs-smart-city-dreams-need-trust-not-just-new-tech-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3157473/hong-kongs-smart-city-dreams-need-trust-not-just-new-tech-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Nov 2021 22:45:13 +0000 Covid-19 has resulted in loss of life and livelihoods while deepening political fault lines and exposing governance shortcomings. Emerging from the economic upheaval of the pandemic will be the next great policy challenge. Industries like tourism and education are among those affected most by the crisis.  Reviving decimated industries calls for proactive and stimulatory policy intervention of the type adopted after the global financial crisis and the Great Depression. This imperative underscores... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3139043/what-coronavirus-vaccine-roll-out-says-about-innovation-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3139043/what-coronavirus-vaccine-roll-out-says-about-innovation-age?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jun 2021 19:30:10 +0000 The Covid-19 crisis is drawing attention to respiratory health, and in cities with severe air pollution, people may be more vulnerable to the virus. While the world is focused on crisis mitigation, it is important not to lose sight of recurring challenges such as air pollution and environmental degradation. These issues influence society’s ability to adapt to unexpected public health threats such as Covid-19. The economic downturn inversely illustrates the devastating effects of unfettered... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3082516/india-can-learn-chinas-resolve-clean-its-urban-air-and-help-lead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3082516/india-can-learn-chinas-resolve-clean-its-urban-air-and-help-lead?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2020 01:15:16 +0000