HKCNSA Founding Chairman Shares Expert Insights on Proposed U.S. Controls on “Critical Software” Exports
- 秘書處
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
In response to the United States’ recent proposal to impose export controls on “critical software” destined for China, the Hong Kong China Network Security Association (HKCNSA) has issued its professional perspective. The association’s founding chairman, Mr. David Ip, provided an in-depth analysis of the potential implications for Hong Kong, based on insights he shared in an interview with the South China Morning Post.
Mr. Ip noted that the U.S. definition of “critical software” is broad, encompassing sectors such as aviation, healthcare, finance, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and other essential infrastructure. As the official list of restricted software has yet to be released, the uncertainty surrounding the policy poses immediate concerns for Hong Kong enterprises that rely heavily on American technologies. He highlighted that over 70 per cent of Hong Kong firms depend on U.S.-made cybersecurity software, meaning that forced replacement of core systems could become a complex and demanding process, with potential risks to operational continuity.
He further cautioned that if export restrictions extend to financial infrastructure—such as the Swift global messaging and settlement system—the impact on Hong Kong’s financial sector could be substantial. In light of these risks, Mr. Ip urged local organizations to conduct early assessments of their technological dependencies, explore diversified software suppliers, and prepare contingency plans to strengthen overall cybersecurity resilience.
Source of Information
This article is based on reporting by the South China Morning Post.
The above summary is compiled based on the original article. If any part is inconsistent with the original meaning or requires amendment, please contact the Association.