ESD set to be launched in October

July 29, 2000

Entering the Information Age, the Government is set to take the lead and implement the Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) scheme to provide "one-stop shop" public services to the community online in an innovative manner.

Preparation work for the scheme has now reached the final stage. System testing is now being conducted and services are expected to be launched in October this year.

This was stated by Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mr Alan Siu, when officiating at the ceremony jointly organised with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and the ESD operator to kick-off a territory-wide campaign to promote the ESD today (July 29).

Mr Siu said that through electronic and Internet technology, the ESD would completely transform the way public services were to be delivered and enable them to be provided with high quality and efficiency.

"The public do not have to go to the Government services counter personally as they will be able to obtain various public services through the Internet and other electronic means in a seamless manner, 24 hours a day and seven days a week," he said, adding that under a citizen-centric approach, the design of the ESD interface would be easy and simple to facilitate public use.

The Government has installed public computer facilities at convenient public places, e.g. district offices, community centres, public libraries and post offices. Public information kiosks will also be set up at 100 locations throughout the territory, including MTR stations, supermarkets, shopping arcades, etc. and the public can use them to obtain ESD services.

As regards security, the ESD will adopt a comprehensive network security and monitoring system and all personal data will be encrypted in the process of transmission. All ESD transactions will be secure.

"In short, ESD is simple and reliable, and services are available anytime, anywhere," Mr Siu said.

The Government and the ESD contractor will jointly launch a series of promotional and educational activities to raise the public awareness and understanding of the scheme, and to promote the wider use of ESD services.

In the long term, the Government plans to extend the ESD to all public services which are amenable to electronic mode of delivery. "More importantly, private sector operators can use the ESD system to provide business services, thereby facilitating and promoting the development of e-commerce and making Hong Kong a leading digital city in the 21st century," Mr Siu stressed.

Before the launching of the ESD in October, members of the public can visit the ESD website (www.esd.gov.hk) and try their hands on the simulation of ESD services.

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