{
  "id": 10814610,
  "title": "Hong Kong’s executives are ‘ill prepared’ for AI era, report finds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/hong-kongs-executives-are-ill-prepared-for-ai-era-report-finds",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-30T00:00:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3369229/hong-kongs-executives-are-ill-prepared-ai-era-report-finds"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new report by Grant Thornton Hong Kong reveals that executives at the city's largest listed companies lack essential technological expertise, particularly in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Of the 100 major firms surveyed, only 1% of directors possess dedicated AI skills, and just 0.56% have cybersecurity expertise. Despite Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) updating its Corporate Governance Code standards last year to include mandatory director training and stricter oversight, a significant skills gap persists. Only 11% of companies have established specialized board committees to manage digital threats and integrate technology. The report highlights that Hong Kong boards are still designed for an era focused on capital allocation and traditional risks, leaving them ill-prepared for autonomous AI systems and sophisticated cyber threats. Current board composition is heavily skewed towards executives with traditional backgrounds in finance, accounting, business, and economics, with nearly two-thirds of large-cap companies without a single director possessing technical information technology or cyber expertise. While female representation has slightly increased to 22%, it remains significantly lower than European benchmarks of 34 to 40%. Grant Thornton's Barry Tong and Ivan So urge companies to capitalize on the upcoming refresh of independent non-executive directors (INEDs) to recruit digital talent, warning that the current capability gaps could leave firms vulnerable to operational disruptions and investor scrutiny.",
  "summary": "Executives at Hong Kong’s largest listed companies have a severe lack of technological expertise, with fewer than 1 per cent of directors possessing dedicated artificial intelligence or cybersecurity skills, according to a new report by Grant Thornton Hong Kong. The firm’s 15th annual Corporate Governance Review – which surveyed 100 major listed firms on Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Composite Index –…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
        "title": "AI, robotic arms power Hong Kong public hospital laundry and meal centre",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/ai-robotic-arms-power-hong-kong-public-hospital-laundry-and-meal",
        "published": "2026-09-29T11:11:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}