LCQ1: Multi-functional smart lampposts installed in Hong Kong Science Park
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Question:
It has been reported that early this year, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) installed in the Hong Kong Science Park (HKSP) a total of eight multi-functional smart lampposts (smart lampposts) developed by five partner companies. Each smart lamppost is equipped with a number of functions, such as surveillance by closed-circuit cameras, provision of light-emitting diode lighting, monitoring of pedestrian and traffic flow, provision of quick charging for electric vehicles and collection of meteorological data. The various real-time data collected by the smart lampposts will be shared with the Data Studio of the HKSP. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it knows the names of the aforesaid five partner companies, and set out in the table below the details of the collection of data by such companies through the smart lampposts;
| Company name | Type or field of data | Usage of data | Technology/system used for collecting data and data format | Frequency of data updating |
(2) whether it knows if those partner companies and the HKSTPC will provide the data collected from the smart lampposts to the Government for its use, including allowing the Government to publish such data through the data.gov.hk portal;
(3) whether it knows if those partner companies and the HKSTPC will, through the smart lampposts, collect data on identifying particulars of an individual; if they will,
(i) how they ensure that the collection, use and processing of the relevant data are in compliance with the data protection principles stipulated in the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap 486);
(ii) whether they will review the relevant arrangements on a regular basis; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(iii) whether they will provide such data to the Government for its use (including transferral of the data to a third party); if so, how they ensure that the data subjects are informed of the relevant arrangements; and
(4) as the Chief Executive indicated in the Policy Address delivered in October last year that the Government would push ahead with three infrastructure projects to develop Hong Kong into a smart city, including (i) providing an eID for all Hong Kong residents, (ii) launching a pilot Multi-functional Smart Lampposts scheme at selected urban locations, and (iii) reforming the development technology of e-Government systems and building a big data analytics platform, whether the Government will draw reference from the relevant experience of the HKSTPC when pushing ahead with those projects; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
To complement the development of smart city, and to promote the research and development, testing, validation and adoption of various smart city solutions, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation has installed eight multi-functional smart lampposts using the technologies from five companies in the Hong Kong Science Park (Science Park) for collecting real-time data on road conditions and weather etc. Some of the smart lampposts are even equipped with electric vehicle charging function.
Our reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(1) The names of the five companies mentioned above and the data collected through the smart lampposts are at Annex.
(2) The data collected by the smart lampposts would be processed and consolidated collectively in the Data Studio of the Science Park for testing purposes and will not be published at the data.gov.hk portal.
(3) At present, the smart lampposts installed in the Science Park mainly collect data on the external environment, such as weather, air quality and traffic condition. The images collected by the smart lampposts are used for real-time viewing of road conditions or verification of the operation of the concerned technologies. Data relating to the identification of personal identity will not be collected and relevant images will not be stored.
(4) In March this year, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) briefed the Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting of the Legislative Council the proposals regarding three key infrastructure projects for smart city development, which include the eID and the Multi-functional Smart Lampposts pilot scheme. On the eID project, the OGCIO also issued a Request for Information to invite submissions from relevant sectors and professional bodies on the technical solutions and various potential e-service applications of eID. Subject to the Finance Committee's funding approval, the OGCIO plans to invite tenders in the second half of 2018, with the target to launch the new system for operation by mid-2020. As for the Multi-functional Smart Lampposts pilot scheme, the OGCIO targets to roll out the first phase and progressively install some 50 smart lampposts in Kowloon East for use before mid-2019. In implementing these projects, the OGCIO will make reference to the application of relevant technologies as well as the experience and effectiveness of the trials/pilots pursued by the Government and other organisations.
Ends/Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Issued at HKT 11:50
Issued at HKT 11:50
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