New booklet outlines Government's IT strategy in the 21st century

November 16, 1998

The Information Technology (IT) vision, strategy and initiatives on how Government business, industry and the academia can work together to make Hong Kong a leading digital city in a globally connected world of the 21st century are set out in detail in a booklet published by the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau.

Presenting the booklet at an open forum organised by the Internet Business Consortium and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council today (Monday), the Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mr K C Kwong, said the rapid development and wide adoption of digital technology had led to great changes in the past two decades.

"These changes are not simply in the context of data processing or computing," he noted. "They are changes which affect how we communicate with each other, how we organise our daily activities, how we educate the younger generation, and how we run business."

He told participants that the driving force behind all these changes was the digital convergence which was driving the whole world into a digital age - an age which offers lots of opportunities and challenges.

As a city with one of the world's most advanced telecommunications infrastructure, the Secretary expressed confidence that "Hong Kong is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities in the digital world".

But he cautioned that Hong Kong must build on its strengths of entrepreneurship, adaptability and determination in order to be even more competitive in the digital and globally connected world of tomorrow.

The booklet, entitled "Digital 21 : HKSAR Information Technology Strategy", presents an all-encompassing strategy based on four enabling factors which together "would make Hong Kong a leader, not a follower, in the information world of tomorrow".

These enabling factors, identified by the Chief Executive in his 1997 Policy Address, are :

• developing a high capacity communications infrastructure
  
  
• establishing an open and secure common interface for electronic transactions
  
  
• empowering people with the know-how to use IT
  
  
• nurturing a culture which stimulates creativity and welcomes advances in the use of IT

Under the Digital 21 IT Strategy, the Government has proposed a wide range of key initiatives to strengthen these enabling factors. The objectives and how and when these initiatives can be achieved are also described in the booklet.

Mr Kwong told the forum that the Government's IT strategy would bring more effective provision of public services and better use of IT to enhance the personal and social life for individuals in the community.

For businesses, it will open up new ways of doing business to conquer new markets, enhance attraction for international investors, maximise return on IT investment, and engender a competitive and healthy local IT market.

As for Hong Kong's position in the world, he envisaged that the strategy would enable the territory to maintain its competitiveness in the Information Age, develop into an important hub for global electronic commerce, and enhance its role as the communication gateway to the Mainland of China.

"We shall regularly review and revise this strategy in response to the rapid pace of technology development, and update our goals and targets," he said.

The booklet is available to the public at all District Offices as well as on the web site of the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau (http://www.info.gov.hk/itbb).

Suggestions and comments on the Digital 21 IT Strategy are welcomed and they should be sent either to the Bureau at Murray Building, 2nd floor, Garden Road, or by fax (2511 1458), or via e-mail to itbbenq@itbb.gcn.gov.hk.

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