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Cities continue to serve as shining beacons of hope and opportunity, and people in every corner of the world flock to them to experience a higher standard of living, start families, and found businesses, in a migration trend known as urbanization. This trend has made of cities intellectual hubs and cultural and financial centers. But cities also have congestion, pollution, and public safety issues. Continued globalization and urbanization have tested the limits of the city’s health, power, safety, and transport infrastructures. With globalization came rapid change in technology, trade liberalization, and in the relationship between production, sales, and consumption. Cities must become smarter to be able to compete globally. Building smart cities with local characteristics is an important factor in cities’ ability to secure a place in the competition of globalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a comprehensive survey on smart city definitions across the world and a series of public consultations, we first provide a definition of “Smart Macao.” Then we address the basic principles, development goals and strategies, and the main themes of Smart Macao. Next, we identify the potential bottlenecks in developing Smart Macao by inspecting Macao’s current situation. Finally, we argue that the building of Smart Macao must follow the laws of urban development, gather the insights of the public, grasp the opportunity of Greater Bay Area construction, and provide opportunities for young talents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, leading cities around the world have been striving to develop smart cities. Each city sets its goals and measures on smart city development having regard to its own circumstances, background and priorities. Hong Kong has been maintaining its leading position globally in terms of economic performance and digital competitiveness. With the staunch national support for I&T development, its fast-growing start-up ecosystem and fervid I&T atmosphere gradually created, Hong Kong is well-positioned to pursue smart city development. The Government published the “Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong” in December 2017. The development plans cover six major areas with more than 70 initiatives so as to drive the smart city development in Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]