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The Companies Registry awarded contracts for the development of the Integrated Companies Registry Information System (ICRIS) and provision of microfiche and paper document conversion services to Hewlett-Packard Hong Kong Limited and Kodak (Hong Kong) Limited respectively.
Speaking at a contract signing ceremony today (August 28), Registrar of Companies Mr Gordon Jones said that ICRIS was an integral part of the Registry's Strategic Change Plan (SCP) which aimed to establish a fully computerised operation by late 2004 to provide fast, inexpensive, user-friendly and high quality services.
"ICRIS will be implemented in two phases to support the core business activities of the Registry and enable electronic service delivery," Mr Jones said.
Phase I, set for completion in November 2003, involves the replacement of existing systems, infrastructure enhancement, data management enhancement, document imaging, conversion of microfilm records into electronic images, implementation of workflow management and online search. On the completion of this phase, incoming paper documents will be converted into digitised images to enable online examination and data entry by Registry staff. Customers could have concurrent access to the current data of companies and the digitised images of all registered documents over the Internet 24 hours a day.
Phase II will cover the implementation of electronic document registration and incorporation. On the completion of this phase, the Registry's customers will be able to lodge documents and to incorporate companies electronically online.
The ICRIS development contract covers development, implementation, supply and installation of necessary hardware, software and network equipment. It also covers integration services for software customisation, data conversion, training, and the provision of disaster recovery services. The total contract price is $138 million, including an one-off cost of HK$48 million and recurrent costs of $90 million over a period of ten years.
The contract for provision of microfiche and paper document conversion services is estimated at over HK$20 million. Over 80 million frames of microfilmed documents will be converted into digitised images.
After implementation of ICRIS, the Registry will have an estimated annual saving of $52 million, mainly savings in staff and operation costs.
"On the completion of ICRIS by the end of 2004, we will become a fully computerised Registry. The new system will not only streamline the daily workflow, but also further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our service," Mr Jones said.
End/Wednesday, August 28, 2002
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