Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho introduced the potential and opportunities of Hong Kong's housing technology development during her visit to Paris, France yesterday.

Ms Ho first visited the Innovation Hub of Schneider Electric to learn how the company applies the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and robotics to promote building energy efficiency retrofits and achieve smart energy management and net-zero power generation.

With a Housing Department delegation, Ms Ho introduced to them the experience of applying innovative technologies in public housing development in Hong Kong and shared how the Housing Authority promotes and advances the development of innovative technologies at the planning and design, construction and inspection stages of works, and fosters optimisation and upgrading of the construction sector.

In the afternoon, Ms Ho went to the headquarters of Saint-Gobain Group, visiting its iconic Saint-Gobain Tower and its research centre in Paris to learn more about their research, development and production process of green building materials for lowering costs, saving energy and reducing carbon emissions while enhancing indoor comfort.

The housing chief also attended a dinner with representatives of the Business Environment Council and the largest employers' association in France, Mouvement des Entreprises de France.

They exchanged views on the application of construction technology by frontline staff and the development of smart cities, as well as shared experiences on promoting occupational safety and sustainable development in the two places.