Response to tenders for ESD encouraging

April 9, 1999

A total of six submissions in response to Government's invitation to supply the Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) system has been received when tender closed at 12 noon today (Friday).

Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mr K C Kwong, said the response was encouraging as the submissions came from consortia comprising solid companies locally and internationally.

"We will now examine these submissions carefully. Our plan is to award the contract by the end of September and launch the first phase of the scheme in the latter half of 2000," Mr Kwong added.

The scheme aims to provide Government services to the community electronically via an information infrastructure accessible throughout the territory.

The first phase of the scheme covers the services of 10 departments and public agencies.

Examples of specific services available through the first phase of the ESD scheme include payment of Government bills, submission of simple tax return, purchase of tax reserve certificates, booking appointment for identity card registration, job vacancy database search, application for renewal of driving and vehicle licences, voter registration, as well as computerised map enquiry and information look-up system for tourists.

"In short, the scheme will transform the way public services are delivered," said Mr Kwong.

"More importantly, we anticipate that the open and common information infrastructure which we are going to develop for ESD will serve as a platform which the private sector can make use of in conducting electronic commerce," he said.

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