HKGCC urges government to boost SME AI adoption and digital push ahead of Policy Address
HKGCC urges the SAR to back SMEs with AI grants, tax breaks, playbooks, and advisory clinics to cut costs and speed adoption. More event venues are also sought to boost tourism.
Govt should help firms make use of AI, says HKGCC
With the Policy Address due on Wednesday, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce is calling for concrete support to help small and medium-sized enterprises digitise and apply AI. CEO Patrick Yeung stressed that SMEs remain a key engine of growth, yet many are still under pressure-especially in catering-despite a slight uptick in retail sentiment.
His message is clear: give firms the means to modernise operations, develop new products, and move faster onto the right platforms. Targeted funding and policy levers can ease costs and remove friction that blocks adoption.
Why this matters for policymakers
Labour and rent remain high. Productivity gains from digital tools and AI can help firms absorb these costs without passing them on to consumers.
Without support, the gap widens between SMEs that can invest and those that cannot. That weakens supply chains, suppresses wages, and drags on growth.
What HKGCC is asking for
- Extend and strengthen the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme to ease debt burdens and unlock working capital for tech upgrades.
- Provide extra funding for digitisation, operational improvements, and product development-tied to clear adoption milestones.
- Help SMEs get onto the right platforms and use AI tools faster and more effectively, with practical guidance and vendor-neutral support.
Practical policy moves the SAR Government can deploy fast
- Time-bound AI adoption grants: cover a portion of software, implementation, and data-cleaning costs, with simple claims and fixed payout timelines.
- Tax relief: 200% super deduction on verified digital and AI expenses up to a capped amount per year.
- Public procurement starter projects: reserve a share of small contracts for SME-led AI pilots with clear outcome metrics.
- Shared resources: set up sector playbooks (retail, catering, logistics), template workflows, and safe sample datasets to speed deployment.
- Advisory clinics: free, 60-minute consults for SMEs to map use cases (inventory, demand forecasting, scheduling, marketing analytics, compliance reporting).
- Cloud credits: co-fund first-year cloud and essential security tools to reduce upfront cost.
- Data and compliance guidance: publish model risk guidelines, privacy checklists, and vendor due-diligence templates suitable for SMEs.
- Skills uplift: short, stackable courses for owners and frontline staff focused on workflows, not theory, with micro-credentials.
Tourism and events: build on new districts
Beyond SME support, Yeung urged the government to create more venues for large-scale events, building on West Kowloon Cultural District and Kai Tak. Bigger event capacity brings visitor nights, higher per-capita spend, and repeat travel.
- Plan an annual "citywide events grid" that coordinates venues, transport, and policing windows 12-18 months ahead.
- Promote curated routes around historical sites and the arts, supported by wayfinding, digital passes, and bundled transport.
Six-month implementation checklist
- Announce the SME AI grant and super deduction in the Policy Address; publish application rules within 30 days.
- Launch three sector playbooks and a vendor-neutral marketplace of pre-vetted tools within 60 days.
- Open AI advisory clinics in partnership with chambers and universities within 90 days.
- Ringfence a share of small public contracts for SME AI pilots; first tenders issued within 120 days.
Useful references
Skill building for fast, practical adoption
If you need ready-to-use training paths by job function and skill level, see this curated catalogue: AI courses by job. It's useful for structuring short courses for SME owners and frontline teams.
The ask from HKGCC is straightforward: reduce friction, lower risk, and speed up adoption where it moves the needle. Put these measures in the Policy Address and set a clear delivery timeline so SMEs can plan with confidence.
