(2 July 2025) To advance Hong Kong’s Smart City development, the Smart City Consortium and the Hong Kong PKI Forum jointly launched the “e-Cert Smart Sign Initiative”, promoting locally tailored e-certificate solutions that combine globally recognized e-signatures and blockchain technology across industries.
↑ The MoU signing ceremony with Mr. Vandia Yang, Honorary Secretary, Smart City Consortium (left), Ms Keren Leung, Director of Trusted Identity Committee, Hong Kong PKI Forum (middle), and Mr. Edmond Cheung, Deputy Chairman, Chartered Institute of Housing Asian Pacific Branch (right).
Amid Hong Kong’s widespread digital transformation, traditional paper-based certification systems are undergoing a fundamental revolution. Conventional paper certificates face challenges such as high production costs, inefficient circulation, difficulty in verification, and vulnerability to forgery. As a result, electronic certificates that integrate internationally standardized e-signatures and blockchain technology are emerging as a global trend. These digital solutions not only enable end-to-end paperless processes but also establish a stronger anti-counterfeiting trust mechanism through cryptographic safeguards and decentralized storage. E-signatures authenticate identity and signing intent, while blockchain ensures document integrity and process traceability, together forming a complete trust ecosystem.
During the 2025 Learning & Teaching Expo held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Hong Kong PKI Forum, Smart City Consortium, and Chartered Institute of Housing Asia Pacific Branch signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This strategic partnership enables the issuance of digital attendance certificates to participants of training courses organized by the latter two professional organizations. Among the honored guests who witnessed the event were Hon. Elizabeth Quat, SBS, JP, Honorary President of the Smart City Consortium and Legislative Council Member and Ir. Professor Christopher Chao, Vice-President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.