Hong Kong bets on 36-fold surge in computing power to join top global AI hubs

Hong Kong is betting on a 36-fold increase in supercomputing power to propel the city into the top tier of global artificial intelligence (AI) hubs, as it ramps up infrastructure to keep pace with rivals London and New York in the race for digital supremacy, the city leader has said.

In his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Internet Conference (WIC) Asia-Pacific Summit at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Monday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu underscored the city’s infrastructure road map as a cornerstone of its bid to become a leading international innovation and technology (I&T) hub.

“We are formulating a comprehensive strategy that combines world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge research and development, and a culture of responsible innovation. Boosting our computing power, a key driver of AI development, is a top priority,” Lee said.

He noted that although the city currently operated at 5,000 petaflops of computing power following the launch of the Cyberport AI Supercomputing Centre in late 2024, the government was already setting its sights on a far greater horizon, centred on a new data facility cluster in Sandy Ridge within the Northern Metropolis megaproject.

“By 2032, this cluster alone will provide 180,000 petaflops,” he told an audience of more than 1,000 global delegates at the summit.

“That is 36 times Hong Kong’s current computing power.”