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The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (SCIT), Mr Joseph W P Wong, and the Vice-Minister of Information Industry, Mr Xi Guohua, signed an agreement in Beijing today (April 17) to fully enhance exchange and co-operation in information industry and technology between the Mainland and Hong Kong.
The signing of this agreement is part of the programme of Mr Wong's visit to Beijing.
Under the agreement, the two sides will enhance technology co-operation in various focus areas of the information industry, including automobile electronics, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, mobile communication, integrated circuit design, technologies relating to consumer electronic products, digital TV, broadband wireless access technology, digital content, radio management and the next generation internet etc.
Both sides will also encourage enterprises, research institutes and experts from Hong Kong to participate in the formulation of national standards relating to information technology. In this regard, the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) has arranged the China Communications Standards Association and the Chinese Electronics Standardisation Association to meet Hong Kong's R&D Centres to introduce the standardisation work of the Mainland as well as the concrete plans for Hong Kong to participate in the process.
The agreement also provides that both sides will utilise the existing public technology platforms on the Mainland and Hong Kong to strengthen the exchange and sharing of innovative talent, equipment and technology information resources, as well as to enhance the co-operation between science and industrial parks, research institutes, intermediary service organisations and tertiary institutions, with a view to promoting the development of technologies for the information industry.
Mr Wong said, "The national information industry has been growing rapidly in recent years and there is an increasing demand for information services by Mainland enterprises. Hong Kong possesses advanced information technology infrastructural facilities and competitive research and development capabilities. Closer collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland would help play out the complementary strengths of both sides and achieve win-win situation.
"Formulation of product and technology standards is an important element in the development of the information industry. The agreement allows Hong Kong experts and enterprises to participate in the formulation of national standards in the information industry. This will facilitate us to keep abreast of the national developments in the relevant areas, and will help the industry explore the Mainland market and develop new products and services."
Apart from signing the agreement, Mr Wong also took the opportunity to exchange views with officials from the MII on matters relating to the information industry, including the latest information and communications technology development in the two places, and further liberalisation measures under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).
Both sides also reviewed the impact on the regional telecommunications traffic caused by the earthquakes near Taiwan in last December. They suggested that the telecommunication authorities in the two places would follow up to discuss on how to further strengthen the mutual reporting and support in the two places when their external telecommunication systems faced an emergency situation.
During his stay in Beijing today, Mr Wong also met the Minister of General Administration of Customs, Mr Mu Xinsheng. The two parties agreed to actively examine the implementation of express clearance system in the two places; and to decide on some concrete co-operation projects when the Pan-PRD Customs Trade Facilitation Forum and Joint Meeting of the Customs Directors of the Pan-PRD Region was held in Hong Kong.
In addition, Mr Wong visited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), during which he mentioned that Hong Kong would take an active role in hosting large-scale international conferences and exhibitions, to strengthen the status of Hong Kong as an international conference and exhibition centre. The MFA expressed support to this and would make suitable arrangements when necessary.
Mr Wong also met with about 20 representatives from the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China to exchange views on the operations of Hong Kong enterprises on the Mainland.
Mr Wong will return to Hong Kong tonight after his two-day visit.
Ends/Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:56
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