Inaugural meeting of Advisory Committee on Code of Practice for Recognized Certification Authorities
01 - 02 - 2000

The Advisory Committee on Code of Practice for Recognized Certification Authorities (the Advisory Committee) held its first meeting today (Tuesday).

Chaired by the Director of Information Technology Services (the Director), the Committee comprises members from the Legislative Council, recognized certification authorities (CAs), business users of certification services, academic institutions and related professions.

The Advisory Committee advises the Director on matters relating to the Code of Practice for Recognized Certification Authorities (the Code of Practice) and will review the principles, technical standards and procedures for the operation of recognized CAs, taking account of operational experience and relevant developments.

"The Code of Practice, which was issued by the Director on January 14 under Section 33 of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap. 553)(the Ordinance), specifies the standards and procedures for recognized CAs to carry out their functions," a spokesman for the Information Technology Services Department (ITSD) said.

"The Ordinance provides a voluntary CA recognition scheme under which CAs may apply for government recognition on a voluntary basis from the Director," he added.

Under the Ordinance, the Director is the authority to grant government recognition to CAs and to certificates issued by recognized CAs.

A recognized CA shall comply with the Code of Practice.

"The Code of Practice is a key document for the operation of the voluntary CA recognition scheme which in turn will facilitate the conduct of secure electronic transactions in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)," the spokesman said.

"The Code of Practice will also apply to the Hongkong Post which started offering public CA services yesterday (Monday)," he said.

The Director may from time to time amend the Code of Practice and may consult the industry in respect of such amendments.

"The primary channel of consultation with the industry will be through the Advisory Committee," said the spokesman.

"The Advisory Committee will also consider matters which will be conducive to improving the operation of the voluntary CA recognition scheme in the HKSAR."

The terms of reference, membership, agenda of meetings and discussion papers of the Advisory Committee will be published on the web site of ITSD at http://www.itsd.gov.hk/itsd.

Composition of the Advisory Committee is as follows:

Chairman

Mr Lau Kam-hung, Director of Information Technology Services

Members

Mr W S Chan, Assistant Director for Certification, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

Ms Winnie C W Cheung, Director of Professional Practices, Hong Kong Society of Accountants

Professor Francis Chin, Chair of Computer Science, Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, University of Hong Kong

Mr Daniel Lai, President, Hong Kong Computer Society

Mr Stephen Lau, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data

Mr Andrew Law, Chairman of Management and Technology Committee, Law Society of Hong Kong

Hon Sin Chung-kai, Legislative Councillor (Information Technology)

Ir Jolly Wong, Chairman, Information Engineering Discipline Advisory Panel, Hong Kong Institution of Engineers

Mr Justin Yue, Chief Executive Officer, Tradelink Electronic Commerce Limited

Representative of Postmaster General

Representative of Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting

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