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Speech by SCED at opening ceremony of HKICC 2008 (English only)
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     Following is a speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Computer Conference 2008 today (September 25):

Mr Lee, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning!  I am delighted to have the opportunity to welcome you to the opening of the Hong Kong International Computer Conference 2008.

     I must start by congratulating the Hong Kong Computer Society for successfully organising the Hong Kong International Computer Conference for the past 30 years.  This iconic annual event provides an excellent platform for local and overseas Information and Communications Technology (ICT) business leaders, professionals and academics to discuss and share their insights on ICT developments.  Its longevity and the fact that it continues to attract leading personalities to participate bear testimony to the consistent effort to select relevant themes and source distinguished speakers.  Well done!

     The theme of this year's conference is "Innovation - Creating Our Digital Future".  

     Professor Michael Porter of the Harvard Business School once said "Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity".  It has certainly been the central issue in Hong Kong's transformation from a small fishing village into one of the world's great cities.  For the past 60 years, our entrepreneurs have continuously created innovative business models, ruthlessly discarding old ones.  By the 1960s, we had become one of the world's first export-oriented low-tech manufacturing centres, then moving upmarket to high technology, before relocating most of our factories to the Mainland and taking on the role of a trading and business services hub.

     Nowadays, the use of IT is enabling innovation. The music business has been transformed by distribution of digital music. The television business has been transformed by the ability to distribute dozens of channels over the air or down the wire.  Low-cost airlines have emerged, with a business based on selling e-tickets over the Internet.

     The past decade has seen an enormous amount of IT-driven change. I hesitate to make specific predictions about future innovation - other than that the pace of change does not look set to slow down!  Areas such as healthcare, education and environmental protection all look ripe to be transformed by the use of IT. No doubt over the course of the conference you will discuss many other possibilities. I suspect you will find that almost every aspect of life is a promising candidate for IT-based innovation.

     Government has a role in funding basic research in universities and research institutes, and in providing facilities such as the Hong Kong Science Park. We have invested HK$15 billion in IT both in upgrading our own systems and supporting the private sector and will continue to do so. We also have a role in making sure we are an innovative user of IT in delivering convenient and efficient public services. Finally, we have the equally important but perhaps less glamorous role of providing the best economic, legal and educational environment so that companies can successfully identify and exploit opportunities to innovate.  In Hong Kong, for instance, we have a low tax system, excellent protection for intellectual property rights, clear data privacy laws and a competitive telecommunications market. These all contribute to creating an environment that is favourable to innovation.

     Innovators often find their first markets among less well-off, less demanding customers. For instance, Apple started by selling personal computers that were positioned for hobbyists, rather than by competing with the major suppliers of mainframe computers. In Asia, we have many potential customers who will be willing to try new products, or look at new uses for existing products. We also have many technically capable engineers and entrepreneurial business people. With an innovation-friendly business environment, I have no doubt that much of the world's digital future will be created in Asia and that Hong Kong has an important role to play in the drive to build this future.

     Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you are eager to hear what our distinguished speakers are going to tell us about the latest trends and insights on the application of digital innovation and technologies.  May I wish you all a very rewarding experience at this year's conference.

     Thank you.

Ends/Thursday, September 25, 2008
Issued at HKT 10:00

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