The International Conference on Roads and Railways 2025 commenced on 12 June at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Co-organised by the Highways Department and the Hong Kong Institution of Highways and Transportation, the two-day event focuses on the theme 'Building Smart and Green Transport Infrastructure'.

Over 30 experts from Mainland China, overseas, and local sectors are participating, alongside nearly 700 attendees, including industry leaders, scholars, and government officials.

The conference aims to explore global practices and technological advancements in smart and green transport infrastructure, as well as the future development direction of major transport projects in Hong Kong.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan officiated the opening ceremony, emphasizing the importance of integrating high-density urban development with efficient public transport systems through transit-oriented development.

He highlighted the Northern Metropolis project as an example of infrastructure-led and capacity-creating development, projecting a population of 2.5 million and over 650,000 new jobs.

Chan also noted Hong Kong's commitment to investing in technology areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, new energy, and new materials to enhance transportation system efficiency and reliability.

He pointed out that Hong Kong is Asia's leading green bond market, accounting for nearly half of the region's total issuance, and is pioneering innovative financing models for global infrastructure development.

In her keynote speech, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan outlined the government's vision to establish a diverse and highly efficient public transport and road system, promoting cross-boundary integration with the Greater Bay Area through infrastructure-led and capacity-building planning principles.

She emphasized the adoption of a dual-innovation approach, combining policy and technological innovations to enhance the efficiency and quality of transport infrastructure.

Chan also interacted with young engineers during the conference to understand their perspectives on infrastructure development and shared experiences on policy formulation.

Director of Highways Tony Yau discussed strategies for forward planning, policy innovation, new transport models, and technological innovation to address challenges in project implementation within Hong Kong's unique environment.

Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority Darryl Chan provided an overview of the relationship between debt capital markets and infrastructure investment.

Chairperson of the Building Technology Research Institute Hon Chi-keung shared experiences on advancing transport infrastructure through innovations.

Other international speakers presented on the latest developments in smart and green technologies and their applications in maintaining and monitoring bridges and other critical transport infrastructure facilities.

The second day of the conference will focus on 'Smart and Green Transport Infrastructure - Planning, Design and Construction' and 'Green Solutions for Smart Transport Infrastructure'.

Vice President of the Research Institute of Highway of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, Wang Shuiyin, is scheduled to deliver an opening speech.

On 14 June, participants will visit the construction sites of the Central Kowloon Route and the MTR Tung Chung Line Extension to understand the planning and construction challenges of major road and railway systems, as well as community engagement and cultural conservation efforts during construction.