Hong Kong is in talks with mainland authorities to push data exchanges and mutual recognition as the SAR aims to develop into a global data hub, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said.

Speaking on RTHK's Overview Policy programme, Sun said data plays a crucial role in promoting the development of both artificial intelligence and the digital economy.

"We are committed to building Hong Kong as an international data hub," Sun said.

"We need to maintain an accommodative and free business environment so that overseas data will continue to enter the city in confidence. On the other hand, we also hope mainland data, especially sensitive data, could cross the border to Hong Kong."

With the mainland's support, personal data from the Greater Bay Area can already come to the city, Sun said.

He said Hong Kong is now in talks with the mainland for a new policy, allowing cross-boundary data flow from other parts of the mainland, such as Shanghai.

Hong Kong and the mainland are also working on mutual recognition of data, he added.

Sun also said the government aims to boost artificial intelligence development in Hong Kong.

To achieve this goal, the government has proposed establishing a data centre at Sandy Ridge in North District which is expected to boost the city's computing power, he said.