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The Government announced today (September 17) the setting up of a new Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee (D21SAC) as its main advisory body on information technology (IT) and related matters.

The D21SAC, to be chaired by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr John Tsang, will advise the Government on the strategies, programmes and measures to attain and further the goals and objectives set out in the Digital 21 Strategy, the blueprint for information and communications technology (ICT) development in Hong Kong.

The D21SAC has replaced its predecessor, the Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee (IIAC), as the highest-level government advisory body on IT matters. The IIAC was established in 1998 originally with a main focus on the development of information infrastructure for Hong Kong.

The transformation of the technological and industrial landscape since then has called for greater emphasis be placed on the deployment of ICT, software development, digital and multimedia applications on a variety of platforms, as well as the convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting and the Internet.

"We have decided to establish a new committee that is clearly identified with the promotion and furtherance of our goals and objectives set out in our Digital 21 Strategy. The D21SAC will have a focus that is broad, clear and yet strategic and specific, similar to our Digital 21 Strategy, which will be updated on a regular basis," Mr Tsang said.

The latest Digital 21 Strategy was published in March, 2004, after a two-month public consultation exercise concluded in December, 2003.

A total of 18 non-official members and four ex-officio members have been appointed to the D21SAC for a term of two years from October 1, 2004, to September 30, 2006.

"The membership comprises leading players in the ICT and digital entertainment fields, the academia, and innovative users of IT applications. It provides a good mix of talents and expertise, a balance of views, as well as enthusiasm that inspires initiative."

"I am confident that the new committee will provide the Government with valuable advice and insights to advance the development of IT in Hong Kong and sustain its position as a leading digital city," Mr Tsang said.

The membership of the D21SAC is as follows:

Chairman:

Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology

Non-official Member:

Mr Steve Beason

Executive Director, Information Technology, Hong Kong Jockey Club

Professor Samuel Chanson

Professor, Department of Computer Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Mr Paul Chow

Chief Executive and Executive Director, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited

Ms Cordelia Chung

Vice-president, Business Partners, IBM Asia Pacific Service Corporation

Mr Duncan Lau

Chairman and Managing Director, CyberM International (Holdings) Limited

Mr Sunny Lee

President, Hong Kong Computer Society

Ms Anna Lin

Chief Executive, Hong Kong Article Numbering Association

Ms Mary Ma

Executive Director, Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Lenovo Group Limited

Mr Mike McCabe

Regional Director, Market Research & Development, Electronic Arts

Professor Helen Meng

Professor and Director, Human-Computer Communications Laboratory, Department of Systems Engineering & Engineering Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Mr Charles Mok

President, Hong Kong Information Technology Federation

Mr Ng Cheung-shing

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Computer and Technologies Holdings Limited

Mr Hubert Ng

Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong CSL Limited

The Honourable Sin Chung Kai

Member of Legislative Council (IT Functional Constituency)

Mr Samson Tam

Chairman, Group Sense (International) Limited

Dr Winnie Tang

Chief Executive Officer, ESRI China (Hong Kong) Limited

Mr Daniel Yu

President, Sun Microsystems Greater China

Mr Norman Yuen

Deputy Managing Director, Citic Pacific Limited

Ex-officio Member:

Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology (Communications & Technology)

Commissioner for Innovation and Technology or his representative

Director-General of Telecommunications or his representative

Government Chief Information Officer or his representative

Ends/Friday, September 17, 2004

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