The predecessor, Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting (Chinese: 資訊科技及廣播局局長), was created in 1998 by merging the previous portfolios of the Secretary for Broadcasting, Culture and Sport and the Secretary for Trade and Industry.[2] Head of the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau, the secretary is responsible for managing Hong Kong's broadcasting services, developing the film industry, promoting Hong Kong's telecommunications, and providing support to the application of Information Technology within the Government.[3] The position was abolished in July 2002.
In 2022, Carrie Lam proposed the restructuring of the Government Secretariat, expanding the Innovation and Technology Bureau into "Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau" in response to the policy of reindustrialization of Hong Kong.[4] After the resolution was passed in the Legislative Council, starting from 1 July 2022, the Secretary for Innovation and Technology renamed as "Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry". John Lee, as the next Chief Executive, appointed Dong Sun as the new secretary to the Bureau.