The ‘iAM Smart’ platform, which serves as a real-name database, can be used to make it easier for Hong Kong people to spend time in the Chinese Mainland
PROMINENT HONG KONG businessman Herman Hu Shao-ming last week suggested that the city’s “iAM Smart” ID-card linked real name database could be integrated with the national-level identity authentication system in the Mainland China.
“This would allow a Hong Kong mobile number registered on the ‘iAM Smart’ platform to become nationally recognized ‘digital identity’,” he said.
Hong Kong people have become very enthusiastic about visiting the Mainland, but there are still technical hurdles which could be overcome to make things smoother, Professor Hu said. Using “iAM Smart” as a ‘digital identity’ would achieve this.
“This would enable Hong Kong residents to seamlessly connect with mainland digital services, facilitating their travel, family visits, business trips, and investments in the mainland, and attracting Hong Kong businesses and talents to develop in the Mainland.”
The “iAM Smart”-as-‘digital identity’ concept was one of several ideas that Professor Hu, one of Hong Kong’s representatives at the National People’s Congress, offered the Chinese government last week.
ASSISTING JUDGES
He also suggested that Hong Kong people could be invited to serve in Mainland Chinese courts.
China has a unique legal system in which ordinary individuals play a role in trials as “People’s Assessors”. This is similar to a jury system, with lay people building trust and also adding expertise.
There are more than 314,000 people in that role assisting judges in the Mainland. People’s Assessors are considered important participants, as they democratize courtrooms, and often add specialist knowledge and useful perspectives to hearings.
Adding people from the lively financial center on the south coast would be a big plus. “Hong Kong residents possess language advantages, international perspectives, and international trade knowledge and experience,” Professor Hu said.
As well as benefiting the Chinese court sector by recruiting more Hong Kong professionals with international business expertise, the step would be good for Hong Kong, as residents will learn more about how China works.
He suggested that drawing on pilot experience to further “legalize, standardize, and institutionalize the mechanism for Hong Kong residents to serve as People’s Assessors”.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS
He also made other suggestions, summarized below:
First, internship positions in the government of the Chinese Mainland could be gradually opened up for young people in Hong Kong.
Second, more cities in Greater Bay Area could be made eligible for multiple entry permits to Hong Kong, to boost tourism by making it more convenient for visitors to come to the city. At the moment, all visitors using the scheme are from Shenzhen, but people from further afield could also be made eligible.
Third, the use of traditional Chinese characters could be promoted on the Mainland. At the moment, the historical characters are used in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and among overseas Chinese, while simplified characters are used on the Mainland.
“Traditional Chinese characters possess profound cultural value,” he said.
Image at the top from the Hong Kong Govt Information Services