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Following is the speech by the Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mr K. C. Kwong at the British Computer Society (HK Section) Anniversary Dinner tonight (Friday):
Dr Luk, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. Perhaps I should begin with a confession. It was not without some hesitation when I accepted, some months ago, the invitation of the British Computer Society (Hong Kong Section) to its Anniversary Dinner tonight some months ago. The reason was simple, the appointment of the first Secretary for IT & Broadcasting had yet to be announced then and, despite all the speculation, it was not a forgone conclusion that I would take up this important job. Be that as it may, I accepted that invitation, trusting that the Computer professionals must have a better crystal ball than I. I am glad to have accepted that invitation and to have the opportunity to address you now.
The new Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau which I head is responsible, inter alia, for coordinating efforts in the community in the development and use of IT. This institutional change will, I am sure, enhance co-ordination and efficiency in IT policy formulation and help promote IT development in both the public and private sectors. We firmly believe that the wider use of IT is crucial to our efforts to strengthen Hong Kong's competitiveness and to maintain sustainable economic development in the years to come.
IT professionals, like members of the British Computer Society (Hong Kong Section), would have a vital role to play in this endeavour. We look towards you for help to raise community awareness, and to use your knowledge, expertise and ingenuity to identify more opportunities for the wider application of IT in our community.
But as IT professionals, you are no doubt aware of a most urgent issue facing us in the information age today, and that is the need to resolve the Year 2000 problem for our IT systems and other automated equipment. This problem has an immutable deadline and, in less than 600 days, the new millennium will arrive.
I don't think that there is any need for me to go into detail today to explain the Year 2000 problem, but I should emphasize that this is more than just a problem for the IT profession. This is probably the biggest challenge to modern age economy to date. The problem is extensive and can be potentially disastrous, if not properly addressed, as there are few areas of modern life that are not touched by IT. It is serious but most don't realize how serious it is until they start to deal with it.
It is one of Government's priority areas of work in its IT programme to ensure that Hong Kong would be able to achieve Year 2000 compliance. We have set up a high level inter-departmental steering committee on Year 2000 compliance within Government, chaired by me and comprising representatives from the relevant policy bureaux and departments. We have drawn up a three-pronged approach to tackle the problem.
Within the Government, we have embarked upon a comprehensive rectification and replacement programme to ensure Year 2000 compliance for our IT systems and equipment. Every department has developed a Year 2000 compliance plan and action timetable. Everyone has to report progress to the steering committee once every quarter. Over 50% of our existing computer systems are already confirmed to be year 2000-compliant. We are now working on the remainder and expect to achieve compliance well within 1999. We have also issued clear guidelines since late 1996 to include Year 2000-compliant requirement in all our procurement of IT systems and equipment. Our aim is to eliminate any disruption to the delivery of Government services when the new millennium arrives.
We are not just focusing on Government departments. Through the respective policy bureaux or departments, we are also liaising with Non-Government Organizations which are funded or regulated by Government and which provide services to the public to ensure that these organisations would also be able to achieve Year 2000 compliance before the century turn date arrives. Good progress has been made, especially in the financial services sector. For example, over 90% of the banking institutions and 70% of the insurers are expected to achieve Year 2000 compliance before the end of 1998.
We would also be organising publicity programmes to promote awareness on a community-wide basis and encourage businesses in the private sector to take early rectification action. For example, we would be holding a joint seminar with the Central Policy Unit on the Year 2000 problem in June; we would also approach major chambers of commerce shortly to seek their assistance in urging their members to take early action to tackle the problem; and we would be appealing to professional organisations to enlist their support in encouraging their clients to pay serious attention to the problem and to accord top priority to its resolution.
We all know that there is no silver bullet and we can't afford to wait further for one. We need to raise awareness at all levels within our community and particularly among our business people. We have to ensure that management put the resolution of this problem on the top of their agenda. We need every positive action within our community to prepare our businesses, our institutions and ourselves for the smooth transition through the Year 2000.
But Government action alone is not enough. It needs to be matched by equal if not greater efforts in the private sector. IT professionals like yourselves are uniquely placed to contribute to the successful resolution of this century problem. You have the professional knowledge to appreciate the full extent of the problem, and you have the skills to tackle it. You are the most qualified "Bug Busters" in our community.
As the saying goes, to every cloud, there is a silver lining. Looking at the issue positively, we are probably dealing with the largest ever maintenance project in IT history. It presents challenges as well as business opportunities to the IT industry. I have heard that many lawyers are anxiously waiting for litigation opportunities when the new millennium arrives. But they would be dealing only with the crumbs if IT professionals like yourselves seize the business opportunities now and rectify the IT systems of your clients before they create any legal problems.
Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate those members who receive the "Fellow of the British Computer Society 1998" award tonight.
Thank you.
End/Friday, May 15, 1998
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