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The second meeting of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation was held at the Cyberport, Hong Kong today (June 22) to further promote co-operation in informatisation between the two places.
The expert group was formed under the aegis of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference. The Eighth Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference held in September 2005 agreed to establish a new task force on co-operation in informatisation. The first meeting of the group was held in Guangzhou in May last year.
The Deputy Government Chief Information Officer (Operation), Mr Stephen Mak, and representatives from the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Customs and Excise Department and the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, represented the HKSAR Government at today's meeting.
They reviewed the major progress on co-operation in informatisation last year with the Vice-Director of the Department of Information Industry Department of the Guangdong Province, Mr Zou Sheng, as well as representatives from nine other Government departments of the Guangdong Province. The two parties also discussed the future work plans to strengthen co-operation at the meeting.
The co-operation mechanism also provided collaboration opportunities for the information and communications technology industry of the two places. Today, the Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Communications and Technology), Mr Francis Ho, the Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Howard Dickson, the Vice-Director of the Guangdong Information Industry Department, Mr Zou Sheng, and the Deputy Director-General of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Guangdong Provincial People's Government, Mr Liao Jingshan witnessed the signing of three co-operation agreements between the industry of the two places.
The three agreements are: co-operation on software outsourcing between Hong Kong Software Outsourcing Alliance and Guangdong Software Outsourcing Council; co-operation on open source software between Guangdong Linux Centre and Hong Kong Linux Industry Association; and co-operation on digital home and digital entertainment between the Guangdong Public Support Centre of Digital Home Service and Technology and Hong Kong Productivity Council.
A certificate presentation ceremony was also held at the meeting to recognise the successful inclusion of Linux solutions from 15 Hong Kong companies in the Guangdong Linux Software and Hardware Recommended Procurement List.
At the margin of the meeting, the Guangdong delegation also took the opportunity to visit the informatisation application and infrastructure facilities in Hong Kong, including the Cyberport, the Hong Kong International Airport and the Civil Aviation Department.
Ends/Friday, June 22, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:52
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