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Following is the full text of the speech delivered by the Director of Information Technology Services, Mr Lau Kam-hung, at the ISO 9001:2000 Certificate Award Ceremony for the Professional Support Services of the Information Technology Services Department today (April 11):

Mrs Yau, Dr Ng, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today it is my great pleasure to announce that the Information Technology Services Department has been accredited with its first ISO 9001:2000 certificate. The ISO award demonstrates an international recognition of our conformance to a world-class quality standard and the certificate provides concrete evidence of our dedication to excellence in the provision of our services.

The certificate is being awarded by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) without any 'non-conformity' after a comprehensive audit of the Quality Management System of our Professional Support Services, which includes methodology research, development, support, training, quality control and assurance. This certification ascertains our conformance to the quality requirements of the ISO 9001 year 2000 version through formal measurement and assessment by the certification body.

Since the late 1980s, my Department has progressively adopted a number of international standards in our software development activities, including Projects in a Controlled Environment (PRINCE), Function Point Analysis (FPA), Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology (SSADM), Rapid Application Development (RAD) and Quality Management. A quality management system modelled on the ISO 9001 standard has been in place to ensure the delivery of quality service which, I believe, has been the key to our success. In early 1999, we gained ISO 9001:1994 certification for our quality system and last year embarked upon our migration to the new 2000 version.

Being the largest IT organisation in Hong Kong, and the first to obtain the ISO 9001:2000 certification successfully from HKQAA, ITSD will motivate and encourage a wider adoption of the quality management systems in other government departments, as well as setting an example of quality systems delivery to IT-related industries in Hong Kong.

The new ISO 9001:2000 standard puts great emphasis on the requirement to have continual improvement. As the information technology industry is changing and evolving rapidly and the public demand for quality services from government is increasing, we need to continuously improve and provide better services to the public. Achieving ISO certification is just the beginning of our journey of continuous quality improvement. We will conscientiously discharge our obligations to clients and the community, uphold the highest standards of knowledge, practices and ethics, and strive to be a role model in the information technology community.

Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the colleagues involved in this certification project. The award of these certificates is a tribute to their teamwork and enthusiasm. With the outstanding result, I am sure that their experience on the certification process and the quality system development will benefit everyone in the Department in our continuing quality improvements.

Thank you.

End/Wednesday, April 11, 2001

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