Cyber points set up at community centres for free Internet Access

June 28, 1999

To promote wider use of IT in the community, the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau, the Information Technology Services Department and the Home Affairs Department have joined hands to establish Community Cyber Points in community halls/centres.

A total of 50 computers will be installed at the Community Cyber Points in 20 community halls/centres throughout the territory for use by members of the public to access the Interactive Government Services Directory (IGSD) and other information on the Internet, starting tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. These computer facilities are additional to those already installed in Public Enquiry Service Centres at 16 District Offices earlier this year for the public to access the IGSD services and other Government web sites.

The Community Cyber Points offer members of the public more opportunities to use information technology and will help to raise the level of IT capabilities in the community, a spokesman for the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau said today (Monday).

The IGSD (http://www.igsd.gov.hk) is a project under the Government's "Digital 21" Information Technology Strategy which enables the community to obtain public information and services electronically over the Internet in an interactive manner.

The public can also apply via the IGSD web site for free electronic mail accounts from 15 Internet Service Providers and IT-related firms which participate in the "Universal Free Electronic Mail Service Scheme", the spokesman said.

The Community Cyber Points project is part of a series of community-oriented activities of the Cyber Week '99, held between June 24 and 30, with the aim to enhance public understanding of the potentials and capabilities of information technology.

Enquiries on details of the Community Cyber Points can be made on 2835 2500 or on the HAD Web Page (http://www.info.gov.hk/had).

Information on the Cyber Week '99 activities is available on the ITBB web page, http://www.info.gov.hk/itbb.

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