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Following is a speech by Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mrs Carrie Yau, at the Opening Ceremony of the Internet Commerce Expo & Conference Hong Kong 2001 today (June 28):
Mr Fung, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to have the opportunity to open the Internet Commerce Expo - or as it's more commonly called: ICE - an important international IT event first launched in Hong Kong back in 1997.
This year's expo will feature a balanced mix of topical issues in the IT field, including information security, outsourcing, e-finance, wireless communications and XML technologies. These are significant issues for the information industry today.
If we look back just a few years ago, most of these topics either hardly emerged or they were far from prevalent as they are today. And the rapid development of technologies has given rise to new challenges and opportunities which we have to face with in the way ahead.
In Hong Kong, our entrepreneurs thrive on new challenges and opportunities to sharpen their competitive edges and to scale new heights. In recent years, advances in technology have become a crucial way through which we have been able to leapfrog each other. Indeed, many people regard the digital revolution as the most important event since the Industrial Age. And few would disagree that we have to map out our future in this digital revolution with clear vision and well-designed strategy. That's why the Government has recently published the 2001 Digital 21 IT Strategy to keep pace with the changing technological environment. I hope you take time out to read the document which we are making available for delegates attending the ICE.
The key policy objective under the strategy is to build on our early success in establishing a solid foundation for the use of information technology. We want to move forward and position Hong Kong as a leading e-business community and digital city in the globally connected world. The strategy identifies five key areas, and recommends clear objectives and targets that need to be achieved in order to enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness in the ever-changing world of technology.
The first strategic area is to enhance Hong Kong's e-business environment. We will continue to uphold the pillars of our success, like the rule of law, our free and open market policy, low and business-friendly taxes, a level playing field for business and the freedoms enshrined in our constitution, the Basic Law. In addition, we will ensure that our hardware, such as telecommunications and external connections, as well as software, such as our measures to facilitate e-commerce and the adoption of user-friendly licensing policies, are well maintained and further strengthened.
The second area is to ensure the Government leads by example. We have been taking a proactive approach in enhancing our e-culture by providing a whole range of public services on-line through the Electronic Service Delivery Scheme launched last December. We will further explore the possibility of expanding our on-line operations into areas such as e-procurement and other G2B and G2C transactions. We will establish a dedicated E-Government Coordination Office in my Bureau to drive E-government development. We have set the target to provide by end 2003 e-option for 90 per cent of the public services which are amenable to the electronic mode of delivery.
The third area is to develop a skilled workforce for the information economy. We need to have well trained people who are skilled in the use of IT. We are adopting a two-pronged approach - developing local talents as well as attracting overseas and Mainland IT professionals to work in Hong Kong.
The fourth area is strengthening the capability of our community to exploit opportunities in the digital world. We need to safeguard against the emergence of digital divide. We have already implemented various initiatives to promote the use of IT in the community, particularly for those people who have less opportunities to use new technology in their daily lives. For example, we are organizing free IT training and awareness programmes for senior citizens, housewives and the disabled. We have also provided free computer facilities for public use in community halls, libraries, district offices, post offices, etc. We will also ensure that all Government web sites are universally accessible.
The fifth area is to take the lead in exploiting enabling technologies. Hong Kong has been an early and successful user of advanced technologies in the past, such as interactive TV, video-on-demand, mobile telecommunications and smart cards. As mobile commerce is emerging, we will leverage our pervasive use of mobile communications, that now stands at nearly 80 per cent penetration rate which is amongst the highest in the world, to exploit business opportunities in this field which has great potential to flourish and prosper. We will also embark on adopting new technologies like digital TV, Internet2, etc. With our traditional role as a trading hub that matches demand and supply, new technologies tested in Hong Kong for commercial application will easily find their way to target users not only here, but in the rest of the world.
Today's Internet Commerce Expo & Conference ties in with the spirit of the 2001 Digital 21 Strategy to promote Hong Kong as a leading e-business community in the region. And I sincerely urge all the major stakeholders in the IT sector as well as community groups to work together to put all our initiatives under the Digital 21 Strategy in place as early as possible. With our concerted efforts, Hong Kong will be a premier digital city, connecting the world.
Finally, I would like to thank the organizer for its efforts and devotion in organizing the Internet Commerce Expo & Conference and I wish the event every success. Thank you.
END/Thursday, June 28, 2001
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