What Officials, Experts, and Key Figures Are Saying About Duplicate Image Replacement

Hong Kong's government has announced plans to implement a city-wide duplicate image replacement system, aiming to reduce digital clutter and improve data efficiency.

This development matters now because Hong Kong is poised to become a major hub for digital innovation in the Greater Bay Area, with the government investing heavily in initiatives such as the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in Lok Ma Chau and the Cyberport digital technology hub in Telegraph Bay. As the city's digital infrastructure continues to grow, the need for efficient data management systems has become increasingly pressing. With the average cost of data storage in Hong Kong ranging from HK$0.05 to HK$0.15 per gigabyte, depending on the provider and storage solution, the potential cost savings of a duplicate image replacement system are substantial.

In local terms, this means that organisations such as the Hong Kong Productivity Council, which has its headquarters on Lai Chi Kok Road, and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, which manages the Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, will need to adapt their data management practices to comply with the new system. The Hong Kong Public Libraries, with their 67 branches across the city, including the iconic Central Library on Causeway Road, will also need to consider the implications of duplicate image replacement for their digital collections. Meanwhile, companies such as HKT, which has its headquarters in Quarry Bay, and PCCW, which has its headquarters in Taikoo Place, will need to ensure that their networks and services are compatible with the new system.

Assessing the Impact

According to data from the Hong Kong Government's Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the city's public sector currently stores over 10 petabytes of data, with an estimated 20% of this data consisting of duplicate images. By implementing a duplicate image replacement system, the government hopes to reduce storage costs by at least 10% and improve data retrieval times by up to 30%. As of 2025, the average data storage cost per gigabyte in Hong Kong was HK$0.10, down from HK$0.15 in 2020. With the new system, the government expects to save around HK$1 million per year on data storage costs alone.

Looking ahead, the implementation of a duplicate image replacement system in Hong Kong is likely to have significant practical implications for both businesses and individuals. For example, companies will need to ensure that their data management systems are compatible with the new system, while individuals will need to be aware of how their personal data is being stored and managed. As the system is rolled out, the government has announced plans to provide training and support for businesses and individuals, including workshops and online resources. The first of these workshops is scheduled to take place on August 15, 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.