Research2023-09Completed
Grey-market governance pre-study
China Unicom commissioned a pre-study project led by Professor Xiaofan Liu, laying the research foundation for the joint laboratory.
Partners: China Unicom
Lab Milestones
Milestones
From a pre-study project in 2023 to the establishment of the joint laboratory in 2025 and cross-university collaboration and community programmes in 2026, the laboratory has built an end-to-end pathway from research to partnership and translation.
2023
Starting point
Pre-study project
5 languages
Daily briefings
Traditional Chinese / English / Thai / Indonesian / Filipino
3 editions
Regional coverage
Hong Kong / Asia / Global
8 PIs
RGC CRF
Across 3 universities
Timeline
Last updated: 2026-10-292023
1 milestone2024
1 milestoneRecognition2024-11Completed
Selected as a WIC exemplary case
The project “Technology Leads, Unicom Connects the World” was selected as an exemplary case of “Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace” at the 2024 World Internet Conference and presented at the Wuzhen Summit, with Professor Xie Zhigang of CityU and Dr. Meng Shusen of China Unicom International on stage.
WIC exemplary case
Partners: City University of Hong Kong · China Unicom International
2025
5 milestonesPartnership2025-02Completed
Anti-scam seminar
Co-organised by CityU’s Department of Media and Communication and the Kowloon East Region of the Hong Kong Police Force. Professor Xiaofan Liu and a police representative delivered the joint keynote to an audience of over 100.
100+ attendees
Partners: Department of Media and Communication, CityU · Kowloon East Region, Hong Kong Police Force
Funding2025-04Completed
Joint laboratory agreement signed
The framework agreement for the CityUHK–China Unicom Joint Laboratory for Intelligent Scam Prevention was signed, with Professor Xiaofan Liu appointed as Director.
Five-year framework
Partners: China Unicom International · City University of Hong Kong
Partnership2025-05Ongoing
Public Relations Wing social media data partnership
Launched a social media data partnership with the Hong Kong Police Force’s Public Relations Wing, integrating public social media signals into anti-scam analysis.
Partners: Public Relations Wing, Hong Kong Police Force
Research2025-05Ongoing
AI scam intelligence and LLM human–AI projects launched
Two flagship projects — an AI scam intelligence platform led by Wang Xiaohui and an LLM human–AI interaction project for anti-scam led by Jiang Li — were launched.
Partners: China Unicom · City University of Hong Kong
Campaign2025-08Completed
2025 Xiaohongshu summer campaign
203 creators published posts, generating 2.66 million impressions and 440,000 views; comments indicated that more than 10 scams were recognised in time.
203 creators
Partners: Xiaohongshu (RED)
2026
6 milestonesFunding2026-01Ongoing
RGC Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) project
Led by Principal Coordinator Professor Shuhua Zhou, with 8 PIs across three universities, focusing on interdisciplinary anti-scam research.
Partners: RGC · 8 PIs across 3 universities
Partnership2026-05Ongoing
Public Relations Wing partnership phase two
Entered the second phase of the partnership with the Public Relations Wing, running a narrative-vaccine field experiment.
Partners: Public Relations Wing, Hong Kong Police Force
Training2026Completed
SRACP staff training
Staff training for the Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention (SRACP), funded by a Social Welfare Department special fund, for frontline social workers and counsellors.
Partners: SRACP · Social Welfare Department special fund
Campaign2026-08Completed
2026 Xiaohongshu campaign
The 2026 campaign used the hashtag #我在香港防詐騙, generating 575,000 tag views and 4,864 discussions.
575K tag views
Partners: Xiaohongshu (RED)
Training2026-09Completed
Indonesian domestic worker training (first session)
The first anti-scam training session in Indonesian, with 300 attendees.
300 attendees
Partners: Indonesian domestic worker community
Training2026Ongoing
LEAD SafeConnect Student Ambassador Programme
Student ambassadors organised more than 10 campus carnivals to extend anti-scam outreach to young people.
10+ events
Partners: LEAD SafeConnect
2027
1 milestoneFunding2027-01Approved
RGC GRF “Resisting the Script”
Led by Professor Jiang Li, focusing on anti-scam narratives and resistance to persuasion; approved and scheduled to start in January 2027.
Partners: RGC
By the numbers
2.66M+
2025 Xiaohongshu impressions
575K
2026 Xiaohongshu tag views
400+
Event and training attendees
10+
Campus carnivals
Partners
China Unicom InternationalCity University of Hong KongKowloon East Region, Hong Kong Police ForcePublic Relations Wing, Hong Kong Police ForceSRACPLEAD SafeConnectXiaohongshu (RED)
Some partnership details are subject to official confirmation. Last updated: 2026-10-29.