Smart City Aspirations
The PEAK Hong Kong|September 2017

Dr Winnie Tang, chairman of ESRI China and honorary professor in the Department of Computer Science at Hong Kong University, and co-chairwoman of the Smart City Consortium, weighs in on the Hong Kong government’s Smart City Blueprint

Ryan Swift
Smart City Aspirations

Environmental Systems Research Institute, known as ESRI, has been gathering information and creating software to incorporate information into maps for city planners since its founding in 1969 in California. Dr Winnie Tang established ESRI China in Hong Kong over 25 years ago, to bring its sophisticated geographic information system (GIS) tools to Asian governments. GIS tools are a crucial element in making smart cities work, so Dr Tang has taken a huge interest in the recent steps by the Hong Kong government to get its smart city programme underway. Dr Tang has stepped back from her responsibilities with ESRI China to start teaching a course at Hong Kong University on Smart Cities.

One of the key elements in making a smart city plan into reality is political support. In Singapore, Dr Tang says that as early as 2005, a smart city office was set up “within the Prime Minister’s Office”, with the digital government group added to the office just two months ago. “So they have finance people, policy people, implementation people – all in the same office chaired by the deputy prime minister.”

Dr Tang, through her work with ESRI China, is familiar with efforts at smart city development in China and India. She points out that China has already added smart city development to their five year plan, and that there are now more than 500 smart cities in China. Dr Tang gave her thoughts on the Smart City Blueprint from the Hong Kong Government, released this summer.

This story is from the September 2017 edition of The PEAK Hong Kong.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2017 edition of The PEAK Hong Kong.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE PEAK HONG KONGView All
Supercar Condos
The PEAK Hong Kong

Supercar Condos

This new property project is set to be the perfect spot for elite supercar owners to store and show off their rides. 

time-read
1 min  |
October 2017
New Gear
The PEAK Hong Kong

New Gear

Lamborghini unveils an upgraded supercar that boasts breathtaking performance with open-air driving thrills.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2017
Aquatic Timekeeper
The PEAK Hong Kong

Aquatic Timekeeper

As a nod to the futuristic glass bathysphere from The Abyss, this timepiece raises the bar for horological aesthetics by marrying abstract visual concepts with mechanical wonders.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2017
A New Way To Do Business
The PEAK Hong Kong

A New Way To Do Business

Attracting and retaining a creative workforce is a perpetual challenge. The answer may lie in B Corps, a certification process that’s focused on the societal impact a company has.

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2017
Circular Opportunities
The PEAK Hong Kong

Circular Opportunities

Why Hong Kong companies should start turning their waste into a supply source.

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2017
The Game Changer
The PEAK Hong Kong

The Game Changer

After years spent residing in Spain, Paris and the US, Northacre CEO Niccolò Barattieri di San Pietro now has his eyes set on London. The forward-thinking property giant is aiming to restore the former glory back into historical developments in the British capital.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2017
The Quiet Giant
The PEAK Hong Kong

The Quiet Giant

Dr Jonathan Choi wears a lot of hats and sobriquets as he heads up low profile conglomerate Sunwah Group. But with a rising tide of interest in ASEAN and a pending free trade deal, the quiet days may get a little noiser.

time-read
8 mins  |
October 2017
The Boutique Experience in Mexico City
The PEAK Hong Kong

The Boutique Experience in Mexico City

When it comes to Latin America, Mexico is Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner and the biggest buyer of Hong Kong exports.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2016
Discovering the Dark Side
The PEAK Hong Kong

Discovering the Dark Side

Following a growth in the number of protected 'dark sky places' and stargazing travel destinations, all of which offer visitors increasingly luxurious ways to gaze in awe at the night sky, there has never been a more exciting time for astrotourism.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2016
Back On Top
The PEAK Hong Kong

Back On Top

Angela Merkel looks set to stay in charge of Germany as national elections approach, cementing German prosperity and engagement with Europe. 

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2017