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The Ministry of Information Industry (MII) of the Central People's Government today (December 7) presented certificates to the first two Hong Kong companies who successfully obtained the Computer Information System Integration (SI) Qualification Certification of the Mainland.
The Director General of Department of Overall Planning of the MII Mr Wang Jianzhang, and the Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Communications and Technology) Mr Francis Ho, presented the certificates to the companies at a ceremony in Hong Kong today.
Azeus Systems Limited was awarded Level 2 Certification while Y&A Professional Services Limited was awarded Level 4 Certification. Twenty-one local IT professionals, including two from the Government, two from the Hong Kong Productivity Council and 17 from the private sector, were also awarded certificates for the first SI Project Manager Training held in Hong Kong in April this year.
Eight of the IT professionals have also successfully gone through MII's assessment on their academic qualification and project management experience and have been enlisted in MII's SI Project Manager Qualification Register.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Ho said the Government was committed to promoting the recognition of professional qualifications.
"The SI Qualification Certification and other Mainland IT professional qualifications are one of the qualification considerations under the Government¡¦s Standing Offer Agreement for Quality Professional Services (SOA-QPS).
"With sponsorship from the Government, the Hong Kong Computer Society has also launched a study on the feasibility of setting up a Certification System for IT Professional Qualifications and an IT Manpower Roster in Hong Kong to tie in with local demands and the development of the IT industry.
"I would like to encourage the local industry to participate actively in the SI Qualification Certification scheme, to foster a more favourable environment for the talent exchange and economic integration between Hong Kong and the Mainland," Mr Ho said.
Under the second phase of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA II), Hong Kong IT service suppliers have been able to apply for the SI Certification on the Mainland with effect from January 1, 2005.
According to the regulations promulgated by the MII, computer information system integration refers to the overall planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer application system and network system projects.
Companies offering SI services in the Mainland are required to obtain SI qualification certification, which is divided into four levels of capability, namely state level (Level 1), province/municipal level (Level 2), medium enterprise level (Level 3) and small enterprise level (Level 4).
Ends/Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:24
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