Overseas promotion of Electronic Service Delivery scheme

April 7, 1999

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) has taken the opportunity to introduce its Electronic Service Delivery scheme - being developed for delivery of public services on line - at an international forum to be held later this month.

The scheme, a key initiative under the "Digital 21" Information Technology Strategy of the HKSARG, will be featured in an exhibition at the Spring Internet World Fair to be held in Los Angeles, USA from April 12 to 16.

Visitors to the Fair, an international event for electronic business and Internet technology, will be able to have a glimpse at the innovative project being planned in Hong Kong for the delivery of public services to the community through the Internet and other electronic means.

The scheme will offer seamless delivery of various types of public services under a citizen-centric approach, available for use 24 hours a day and seven days a week at locations convenient to the public. It will be implemented via an information infrastructure with a common and open interface accessible throughout Hong Kong. Services covered include submission of tax return, renewal of driving licence, voter registration, payment of Government fees, searching for job vacancies, etc.

A simulation of the services under the scheme will be displayed at the function for visitors to gain hands-on experience.

The exhibition will be held in the booth to be set up by the Trade Development Council as part of the Government's efforts to promote the use of Internet and the development of electronic commerce.

A Government spokesman said: "The ESD scheme will improve the quality and efficiency in the delivery of public services and to improve the accessibility and widen the reach of public services in the Information Age.

"Other benefits include reduction of the cost of providing public services in the longer term and promotion of the wider use of electronic transactions within the community."

"We are committed to providing a favourable environment for electronic commerce to take hold and flourish in Hong Kong," the spokesman added.

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