The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation achieved remarkable results at the Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2024, held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei from December 4 to 7. The HKSAR delegation once again ranked first among the 15 participating economies, bagging a total of eight Winner Awards, four First Runner-up Awards, three Second Runner-up Awards and three Merit Awards.
 
     This annual awards programme serves as a platform for information and communications technology (ICT) talents from the 15 participating economies across the Asia-Pacific region to exchange innovative ideas and forge partnership. Led by the Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, the HKSAR delegation comprising 25 teams showcased their innovative products and applications in the event this year.
 
     The following projects from the HKSAR shone at the competition and won awards among over 260 entries:
 
Winner Awards

• Public transport ridership simulation - MTR to Keep Cities Moving -  The Unprecedented Strategy and Intelligence in Railway Planning by MTR Corporation Limited / the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Business Data Analytics category)
• Try.Eat! - Influencer Matching Platform by InnoLab Limited (Consumer category - Digital Marketing / Advertising)
• CityGeni - Smart City App Specializing in Barrier-Free Navigation by Maphive Technology Limited (Consumer category - Tourism & Hospitality)
• AI-Driven Sorting System by Green AI Technology Limited (Inclusions & Community Services category - Sustainability and Environment)
• HKeToll by Transport Department, the Government of the HKSAR / Autotoll Limited / Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited (Public Sector and Government category - Government & Citizen Services)
• A-EYE AI visual impaired shopping assistant by ELCHK Lutheran Secondary School (Senior Student category: Application)
• From Romanised Nepali to Pure Nepali: AI Transliteration Using Transformer Architecure for Low-Resourced Languages by Hong Kong Baptist University (Tertiary Student category: Application)
• SAFERIN by Hong Kong Institute of Information Technology at IVE (Tuen Mun) (Tertiary Student category: Solution)

First Runner-up Awards

• "ChillStream®" AI chiller optimizer by Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Government of the HKSAR (Artificial Intelligence category)
• Housing Authority Project Information Management and Analytics Platform by Hong Kong Housing Authority / Geosys Hong Kong Limited (Business Data Analytics category)
• PhysioPlay gamified physical training & monitoring system by Medmind Technology Limited (Inclusions & Community Services category - Health & Wellbeing)
• Housing Authority Project Information Management and Analytics Platform by Hong Kong Housing Authority / Geosys Hong Kong Limited (Public Sector and Government category – Digital Government)

Second Runner-up Awards

• Public transport ridership simulation - MTR to Keep Cities Moving - The Unprecedented Strategy and Intelligence in Railway Planning by MTR Corporation Limited / the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Industrial category – Transport)
• Medisafe by St. Paul's Co-educational College (Junior Student category)
• Ball Type Rolling Robot for inspection and rescue by Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Government of the HKSAR (Public Sector and Government category - Government & Citizen Services)

Merit Awards

• Occupational safety guard by Pui Ching Middle School (Junior Student category)
• UMeta - Educational Metaverse by Diocesan Girls' School (Senior Student category: Application)
• Green Recycling by Good Hope School (Senior Student category: Solution)

     ​Mr Wong congratulated all winning teams. He said, "The outstanding performance of the HKSAR delegation highlights Hong Kong's innovative ideas and cutting-edge technology in the ICT field, enhancing Hong Kong's leadership position as an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. We will continue our efforts in fostering a more flourishing and vibrant I&T ecosystem, further promoting the I&T development in Hong Kong."
 
     During the competition, the "Hong Kong Night" was also held in Bandar Seri Begawan on December 6. Mr Wong extended his sincere gratitude to Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Brunei, Mr Shi Rongke, for attending the event and cheering for the delegation from the Mainland and the HKSAR. Mr Wong also thanked the organisers – the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Computer Society, for providing this valuable opportunity that enabled the HKSAR delegation to share and exchange their innovative ideas and technology solutions with representatives from other participating economies.
 
     The Digital Policy Office also sponsored 24 non-governmental organisations representatives and students to participate in the event this year to compete and interact with leading ICT talents from the Asia Pacific region, with a view to helping them extend their reach and move beyond local boundary.
 
     The annual APICTA Awards is hosted in rotation by member economies, with the goal of identifying and recognising ICT innovations, promoting the development of ICT talents, products and solutions, as well as technology and knowledge sharing among the member economies. This prestigious annual event also provides valuable business matching and pitching opportunities, facilitates the in-depth collaboration between business and research and development, as well as promotes the joint development of the industry as a whole. Through the concerted support of the member economies, the APICTA Awards is highly regarded by the ICT industry in the Asia-Pacific region.

Ends/Sunday, December 8, 2024
Issued at HKT 23:58

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