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LCQ13: Internet protocol
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    Following is a question by the Hon Sin Chung-kai and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, in the Legislative Council today (January 23):

Question:

     According to the 2008 Digital 21 Strategy announced by the Government earlier, the Government will migrate to the Internet Protocol version 6 in its internal network in 2008 to replace the existing version 4. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the timetable and public funds needed for implementing the above plan;

(b) whether it has drawn up a work plan to coordinate various government departments in migrating to the new protocol smoothly; if it has, of the details of the work plan; if not, the reasons for that;

(c) whether it has assessed if the Government's migration to the new protocol will affect access to e-government services by the general public; if the assessment result is in the affirmative, of the relevant details; and

(d) whether it will, by way of the Government's migration to the new protocol, motivate the local science and technology sector to research on and develop more services and products for supporting the new protocol; if it will, of the details of the specific plan and the estimated resources to be injected?

Reply:

Madam President,

     The Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) was designed a long time ago and has a limited address space. With the rapid growth of Internet usage, industry indications are that the address space of IPv4 will run out eventually. Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) has an immense address space and will provide the solution to the sustainable growth of the Internet. As the transition between the Internet Protocol versions involves changes to the supporting systems and infrastructure on a global scale, it is expected that IPv4 will not be replaced instantaneously but IPv4 and IPv6 are going to co-exist on the Internet for some time.

     Regarding the questions raised by the Hon Sin Chung-kai, my reply is as follows:

(a) The Government is enhancing its Government Backbone Network, which will support the IPv6 protocol in the middle of 2008. No additional expenditure is incurred, as IPv6 support capability was bundled in the recent equipment upgrades to the network. Separately, the Government will be enhancing the external access interfaces of its Central Internet Gateway to support IPv6. The project will be completed in 2008/09, at an estimated one-off expenditure of $3 million.  

(b) The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) has drawn up the work plan in facilitating Government departments to migrate to IPv6. The work involves the development of guidelines and setting up an IPv6 thematic knowledge base for reference by departments, and providing on-going technical support services to them in working out their migration plans.

(c) The migration of Government Backbone Network and the Central Internet Gateway as mentioned in (a) above will be transparent to the general public in accessing e-government services. Our assessment is that it will enable more effective and seamless access by virtue of enabling connections to the IPv6 Internet community directly.

(d) The Government will also facilitate departments' procurement of equipment supporting IPv6 through enhancing the relevant Standing Offer Agreements. This will give incentives for the local science and technology sector to research on and develop more services and products for supporting IPv6. Back in 2003, the Government has supported academic research in IPv6 by providing funding for setting up an IPv6 connection between the Hong Kong Academic and Research Network (HARNET) and North America. In 2006, Cyberport has also set up the Hong Kong Chapter of the IPv6 Forum to facilitate local research and development work. The OGCIO is also considering to organise an event through its industry partnership forum to exchange views on IPv6 with the information and communications technology industry. The resources for this event will be met by OGCIO's ongoing budget.

Ends/Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:28

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