The Cyberspace Administration of China and the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed a memorandum of understanding on June 29 to promote cross-boundary data flow in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

To facilitate cross-boundary data flow in the GBA in a safe and orderly manner, Zhao Zeliang, deputy director of the CAC, and Sun Dong, the Secretary for ITIB, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Facilitating Cross-boundary Data Flow Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in Beijing.

The memorandum aims to establish the GBA data cross-border flow security rules within the framework of the national data cross-border security management system, facilitate the safe and orderly flow of cross-border data in the GBA and promote its high-quality development.

Under the MoU, the CAC will work closely with the ITIB and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and explore effective management measures to foster cross-boundary data flow within the GBA.

"The National 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) indicates clear support for Hong Kong's development into an international innovation and technology hub. Facilitating data flow in the GBA is an important initiative for promoting the integrated and high-quality development of the GBA, lowering the compliance costs of enterprises and driving the development of Hong Kong's digital economy and proactively integrating Hong Kong into national development," Sun said.

The MoU also contributes to the convenient and orderly flow of cross-boundary data from the mainland to Hong Kong, which is beneficial to building Hong Kong into a global data hub, he said.

"On the eve of celebrating the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the first anniversary of President Xi Jinping's visit to Hong Kong Science Park, the signing of the MoU between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the CAC marks the importance attached by the country and its great support to Hong Kong's innovation and technology development, injecting new impetus into our joint efforts to foster the development of the GBA," Sun said.