Opening of the China Unicom (Hong Kong) Global Center

This afternoon, I attended the opening ceremony of the China Unicom (Hong Kong) Global Center at Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate.

Hong Kong has advanced information and communications technology infrastructure. Our broadband network covers almost all commercial and residential buildings. Our household broadband penetration rate has reached 84 per cent and our mobile penetration rate is about 230 per cent. As a major telecommunications and Internet hub in the region for years, Hong Kong provides favourable conditions for international enterprises to develop high-tier data centres for the Asia-Pacific region. Some international companies, such as Lenovo Group Limited, Microsoft and other cloud computing services providers, have been providing services for Asia through Hong Kong's data centres.

Over the past few years, Hong Kong's data centre facilities have increased significantly, with total floor area expanding from some 300 000 square metres in 2012 to 460 000 square metres last year. Now, we have 11 high-tier data centres in Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, the largest data centre cluster in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region promotes the development of data centres in the territory through a multi-pronged approach. We have implemented various concessionary measures to encourage the development of data centres in industrial buildings and industrial lots. In March this year, the Government extended and enhanced the concessionary scheme to promote the development of data centres through the conversion of industrial buildings and lease modification of industrial lots.

The Government has set aside in Tseung Kwan O two pieces of land, each about one hectare in area, for the development of high-tier data centres. They will be put up for tender in due course.

August 18, 2016