Hong Kong News

Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

$45m tab even before start of HK rebranding

$45m tab even before start of HK rebranding

The "Relaunch Hong Kong" publicity campaign has cost taxpayers a staggering HK$45 million to hire a public relations agency for strategic planning even before the 12-month scheme starts next year, the Home Affairs Bureau has revealed.
The agency conducted local and international baseline research to help government officials gain insights into what people in key markets thought of Hong Kong.

Replying to a question by the New People's Party's Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee in a Legislative Council meeting yesterday, Secretary for Home Affairs Casper Tsui Ying-wai said the contract was awarded to communications consultancy Consulum FZ through an open tender last June.

Tsui said the original value of the contract was US$6.4 million (HK$49.9 million), but around US$730,000 had been saved due to a change in the promotional strategy and implementation timeline. The contract ended on July 30.

Tsui said Consulum conducted research to help the administration better understand perceptions about Hong Kong in key markets.

The results showed that the SAR had unique advantages over rival cities in Asia and pointed to direct access to markets in the mainland and elsewhere in the region and having a secure pro-business platform and a cosmopolitan lifestyle.

Tsui said the contractor was also tasked with improving perceptions of Hong Kong, including the ideas people have that the SAR is "a safe, growing market" and "a great place to live."

Such messages, he said, would be adopted in an overseas business confidence campaign this year to reinforce Hong Kong's image and pave the way for the "Relaunch Hong Kong" campaign, tentatively scheduled for the coming year.

But he said the timelines, scope and scales of the campaigns would hinge largely on how the situation with the pandemic was evolving and whether business activities were on a recovery path.

He added that the Information Services Department had no plans at this stage to engage more PR consultancy services.

Seven companies had bid for the contract last year, but many dropped out. That led to Consulum winning the bid.

The PR consultancy was also employed by the Saudi Arabian government in 2018 to rebuild its international image after its crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, was accused of ordering the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi that year.

Carine Chow

The privacy watchdog has issued guidelines on the ethical development of artificial intelligence to ensure the technology is used in a respectful and fair manner, while protecting the privacy of stakeholders.

The guidance also provides a set of practice guidelines, structured in accordance with general business processes, to assist organizations in managing their AI systems.

The Privacy Commissioner, Ada Chung Lai-ling, said the technology is becoming increasingly popular in Hong Kong, which may lead to privacy and ethical issues.

Organizations should embrace three fundamental values when developing and using AI, which are being respectful, beneficial and fair to stakeholders.

"In line with the outline development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, the healthy development and use of AI can help Hong Kong exploit its advantages as a regional data hub, as well as empower Hong Kong to become an innovation and technology hub and a world-class smart city," she added.

The guidelines listed seven ethical principles when applying AI, calling on companies to be responsible and transparent with their use of AI and relevant policies.

They should also ensure there is appropriate human oversight when operating AI, and data should be well kept under effective data governance.

Companies should also avoid discrimination when using AI - in a way that provides benefits and minimizes harm to stakeholders.

"Organizations should ensure that AI systems operate reliably, can handle errors and are protected against attacks," Chung said.

But she said her office has no plans to legislate on regulation of the use of AI as there is no urgent need.

Meanwhile, the privacy watchdog also launched an inspection on CLP Power Hong Kong and the Hongkong Electric, and found both companies did a satisfactory job in securing their customers' personal data and complied with the requirements stipulated in the privacy ordinance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Hong Kong News
0:00
0:00
Close
It's always the people with the dirty hands pointing their fingers
Paper straws found to contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals - study
FTX's Bankman-Fried headed for jail after judge revokes bail
Blackrock gets half a trillion dollar deal to rebuild Ukraine
Steve Jobs' Son Launches Venture Capital Firm With $200 Million For Cancer Treatments
Google reshuffles Assistant unit, lays off some staffers, to 'supercharge' products with A.I.
End of Viagra? FDA approved a gel against erectile dysfunction
UK sanctions Russians judges over dual British national Kara-Murza's trial
US restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns
America's First New Nuclear Reactor in Nearly Seven Years Begins Operations
Southeast Asia moves closer to economic unity with new regional payments system
Political leader from South Africa, Julius Malema, led violent racist chants at a massive rally on Saturday
Today Hunter Biden’s best friend and business associate, Devon Archer, testified that Joe Biden met in Georgetown with Russian Moscow Mayor's Wife Yelena Baturina who later paid Hunter Biden $3.5 million in so called “consulting fees”
'I am not your servant': IndiGo crew member, passenger get into row over airline meal
Singapore Carries Out First Execution of a Woman in Two Decades Amid Capital Punishment Debate
Spanish Citizenship Granted to Iranian chess player who removed hijab
US Senate Republican Mitch McConnell freezes up, leaves press conference
Speaker McCarthy says the United States House of Representatives is getting ready to impeach Joe Biden.
San Francisco car crash
This camera man is a genius
3D ad in front of Burj Khalifa
Next level gaming
BMW driver…
Google testing journalism AI. We are doing it already 2 years, and without Google biased propoganda and manipulated censorship
Unlike illegal imigrants coming by boats - US Citizens Will Need Visa To Travel To Europe in 2024
Musk announces Twitter name and logo change to X.com
The politician and the journalist lost control and started fighting on live broadcast.
The future of sports
Unveiling the Black Hole: The Mysterious Fate of EU's Aid to Ukraine
Farewell to a Music Titan: Tony Bennett, Renowned Jazz and Pop Vocalist, Passes Away at 96
Alarming Behavior Among Florida's Sharks Raises Concerns Over Possible Cocaine Exposure
Transgender Exclusion in Miss Italy Stirs Controversy Amidst Changing Global Beauty Pageant Landscape
Joe Biden admitted, in his own words, that he delivered what he promised in exchange for the $10 million bribe he received from the Ukraine Oil Company.
TikTok Takes On Spotify And Apple, Launches Own Music Service
Global Trend: Using Anti-Fake News Laws as Censorship Tools - A Deep Dive into Tunisia's Scenario
Arresting Putin During South African Visit Would Equate to War Declaration, Asserts President Ramaphosa
Hacktivist Collective Anonymous Launches 'Project Disclosure' to Unearth Information on UFOs and ETIs
Typo sends millions of US military emails to Russian ally Mali
Server Arrested For Theft After Refusing To Pay A Table's $100 Restaurant Bill When They Dined & Dashed
The Changing Face of Europe: How Mass Migration is Reshaping the Political Landscape
China Urges EU to Clarify Strategic Partnership Amid Trade Tensions
The Last Pour: Anchor Brewing, America's Pioneer Craft Brewer, Closes After 127 Years
Democracy not: EU's Digital Commissioner Considers Shutting Down Social Media Platforms Amid Social Unrest
Sarah Silverman and Renowned Authors Lodge Copyright Infringement Case Against OpenAI and Meta
Why Do Tech Executives Support Kennedy Jr.?
The New York Times Announces Closure of its Sports Section in Favor of The Athletic
BBC Anchor Huw Edwards Hospitalized Amid Child Sex Abuse Allegations, Family Confirms
Florida Attorney General requests Meta CEO's testimony on company's platforms' alleged facilitation of illicit activities
The Distorted Mirror of actual approval ratings: Examining the True Threat to Democracy Beyond the Persona of Putin
40,000 child slaves in Congo are forced to work in cobalt mines so we can drive electric cars.
×