This online workshop was divided into three sections. After a welcome speech delivered by Prof. Alistair Cole, the Head of the Department of Government and International Studies and the principal investigator of this project, three presentations were given discussing the smart city progress of Hong Kong from three aspects – designing, debating, and developing.

Mr. Paul Zimmerman, the elected district councilor for Southern District (Pok Fu Lam), and the CEO of Designing Hong Kong, presented and introduced several urban planning projects in Hong Kong involving his organization. Those projects include Hong Kong Island Coastal Trail, Missing Seats, and Walking with Wheels. While most of the projects are about the walkability and transportation planning of Hong Kong, Mr. Zimmerman also talked about the design of public space in Hong Kong, especially using the recently-closed Western District Public Cargo Working Area as an example. He brought out the coordination issues of the Hong Kong government.

In the second presentation, Prof. Alistair Cole and Dr. Emilie Tran, the Head and the Assistant Professor of the Department of Government and International Studies respectively, firstly introduced the concept of urban narrative, and then presented the results and major findings of three interviews with the international business community, former government officer and policy agency to discuss the specific narratives and the implications in the case of Hong Kong smart city strategies.

The final presentation was given by Mr. Calvin Lai Ming Tsun, the Senior Research Assistant of the Department of Government and International Studies. He bought us the information of current smart city indices and the performances of Hong Kong from their perspectives, and then his purposed smart city index as a tool for analysis.

With the closing remarks by Dr. Emilie Tran, the workshop inspired meaningful discussions and received positive feedback.