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The Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau (ITBB) carried on to drive Hong Kong's development as an IT hub in the region by networking with major players in places which are advanced in the IT field.
Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mrs Carrie Yau, today (May 4) met with Mr John Chen, Chairman, CEO and President of Sybase, Inc. Based in Silicon Valley, Sybase is one of the largest software companies in the world. It has established its Asia Pacific headquarters operation in Hong Kong since 1994. This stems from the company's belief that Hong Kong is a key regional hub for the development and deployment of the most advanced business solutions. Sybase is also an anchor tenant of the Cyberport.
Mr Chen, born and received his early education in Hong Kong, is in town to attend the 10th International World Wide Web Conference hosted in Hong Kong this week, which is held in an Asian city for the first time in history. He will also attend the Fortune Global Forum to be held in Hong Kong next week.
At the meeting, Mrs Yau introduced to Mr Chen key representatives of the Hong Kong IT industry, including Legislative Council Member for the IT constituency, Mr Sin Chung-kai; Hong Kong Information Technology Federation President, Mr Charles Mok; Hong Kong Computer Society President, Mr Daniel Lai; Hong Kong Productivity Council Chairman, Mr Kenneth Fang; Chairman of the Internet and Telecom Association of Hong Kong, Mr Tony Hau; and others. There were useful exchanges on the future of Hong Kong's IT development and how Silicon Valley and Hong Kong could enhance co-operation in the IT field.
Sybase and the Hong Kong Productivity Council also together launched the Asian Solution Centre in Hong Kong last year to provide IT and enterprise portal solutions locally and throughout Asia.
Separately, Mrs Yau met with Mr Narayana Murthy, Chairman and CEO of Infosys Technologies Ltd., Bangalore, India yesterday (May 3) to strengthen networking with India. Infosys is a world leader in providing IT consulting and software services and it is the first Indian company listed on the NASDAQ. Mrs Yau first met with Mr Murthy when an ITBB-led industry delegation visited India earlier this year. Mr Murthy is in Hong Kong to attend the 10th International World Wide Web Conference as well as the Fortune Global Forum.
At the meeting yesterday, Mrs Yau and Mr Murthy discussed how Hong Kong and India could co-operate to create synergy in IT development in the two places. One possible initiative is for Infosys to provide internship training for Hong Kong IT students.
Hong Kong signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on IT co-operation with India earlier last year. The various exchanges with India were made under the auspices of the MOU.
The ITBB will continue to network with other places advanced in the use of IT under the Digital 21 Strategy to strengthen the position of Hong Kong as an IT hub - connecting the world.
End/Friday, May 4, 2001
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