Introduction of Electronic Service Delivery in 2000

September 16, 1998

The Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mr K C Kwong said today (Wednesday) that the Government was now actively planning for the introduction of Electronic Service Delivery in the year 2000 to keep Hong Kong in the forefront of Information Technology ( IT) development and to exploit the full potential of IT.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Computer Conference '98, Mr Kwong said, "Electronic Service Delivery, as the scheme is called, aims to provide Government services to the community electronically through an information infrastructure accessible throughout the territory.

"In the not too distant future, we will be able to transact business with Government on-line and on a seamless basis through the use of information kiosks installed in convenient public locations, personal computers at home or in the office, telephone through interactive voice response system or interactive television. Public services will be available 24 hours a day and seven days a week," he added.

In short, the scheme will transform the way public services are delivered.

Mr. Kwong anticipated that the scheme would serve as a catalyst to pump-prime the development of electronic commerce in the private sector. The open and common information infrastructure adopted for the scheme could also be readily used by the private sector for the conduct of electronic transactions at a later stage.

He also noted that the response to the Government's invitation of expression of interest was very encouraging. A total of 44 submissions from both local and international companies were received. Some of them had solid experience in implementing similar Electronic Service Delivery projects elsewhere.

Mr. Kwong said, "We are now examining these submissions. Our plan is to call for tenders for operating the Electronic Service Delivery Scheme by the end of the year, award the contract in mid 1999 and launch the first phase of the scheme within 2000.

"To support the implementation of the Electronic Service Delivery Scheme and to facilitate the development of electronic commerce in Hong Kong, we consider it necessary to have locally established certification authorities to provide security and trust in the conduct of electronic transactions under a public key infrastructure.

"We accept that Government should take the lead in the establishment of the public key infrastructure. In this regard, the Hongkong Post's agreement in principle to set up a public certification authority in support of our Electronic Service Delivery scheme is a most welcome development," he continued.

Mr Kwong said the Government was also looking into the need for a legal framework to enhance certainty in the conduct of electronic transactions. The objective was to create an environment to help electronic transactions to take hold in Hong Kong.

He praised the Hong Kong Computer Society for adopting the concept of "One Conference Two Cities" in organising the Hong Kong International Computer Conference and the society's relentless efforts in promoting IT development in Hong Kong in the past 20 years.

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