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Applications for the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2009, the most prestigious information and communications technology (ICT) awards in town, will open on August 25.
Announcing the launch of this year's Hong Kong ICT Awards today (August 12), the Acting Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Stephen Mak, said, "The awards provide the most credible evidence of excellence in the ICT sector, which undoubtedly will help winners enter the worldwide ICT market."
Over the past three years, the Hong Kong ICT Awards have been a springboard for the winners to obtain a good number of regional and international awards, helping them enhance their business opportunities both locally and internationally.
Mr Mak pointed out that the organising committee, the partnering organisers and the Government were making every effort to help the award winners showcase their professional achievements beyond the local ICT market. "With all the promotion and publicity efforts of the Awards, winners will be highly regarded by customers, industry practitioners, the media and the community," he said.
Supported by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and individually organised by nine industry bodies selected through a competitive expression of interest exercise, the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2009 aim to recognise, promote and commend the excellent achievements and dedication of local ICT professionals and organisations.
To foster greater collaboration and opportunity among industries, a new award category "Best Collaboration Award" is introduced this year to give recognition to local ICT enterprises that contribute to ICT business collaboration with Mainland and overseas counterparts. The nine categories and their leading organisers are:
* Best Business Award: Hong Kong Computer Society;
* Best Collaboration Award: Hong Kong Software Industry Association;
* Best Digital Entertainment Award: Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association;
* Best Digital Inclusion Award: Hong Kong Council of Social Service;
* Best Innovation & Research Award: Internet Professional Association;
* Best Lifestyle Award: Hong Kong Information Technology Federation;
* Best Professional Development Award: British Computer Society (HK Section);
* Best Public Service Application Award: Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (IT Division); and
* Best Ubiquitous Networking Award: Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association.
There will be one Grand Award in each category and the best of best, the "Award of the Year", will be selected by a Grand Judge Panel from the nine Grand Awards.
Further information is available on (www.hkictawards.hk). Enquiries can be made to the Secretariat Office of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2009 on 2788 6304.
Ends/Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:00
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