Government attaches importance to IT quality and standards
30 - 10 - 2000

"Information technology (IT) quality and standards are always highly valued by the Government," said the Director of Information Technology Services, Mr Lau Kam-hung, today (October 30).

Speaking in an Asia-Pacific conference on quality software today, Mr Lau said, "Quality in simple terms means 'meeting the requirement', 'fit for the purpose' and 'value for money'."

"To compete in the global arena, Hong Kong has to demonstrate its ability to achieve quality management competence," said Mr Lau.

To provide public services effectively and to maximise the return on IT investment, Mr Lau pointed out that the Information Technology Services Department (ITSD) had achieved quality products and services through Continuous Improvement, Constant Measurement, Responsible Performance, Responsive Actions, High Creativity, and Achievable Total Quality.

"We have put in place a quality management system (QMS) modelled on the ISO 9001 standard to ensure the delivery of quality services which, I believe, has been the key to our success," said Mr Lau.

The QMS is used to systematically address standards and procedures for the effective development of computer systems with reference to international and de facto standards.

A Standards and Methods Group had been established in the ITSD to introduce, endorse and monitor the government IT standards and guidelines.

Since late 1980s, the ITSD has been progressively adopting a number of international standards in software development, including Projects in Controlled Environment, Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology, Rapid Application Development, and Function Point Analysis.

In 1998, the ITSD was awarded its first ISO 9001 certificate on its Professional Support Services, which covered both the Quality Management and the Standards and Methods work.

In 2000, another ISO 9001 certification was obtained on the helpdesk services of our Central Computer Centre, which is one of the largest computer installations in Hong Kong.

Mr Lau said, "The ISO award has demonstrated an international recognition of our conformance to an international quality standard.

"With more development and maintenance works now being and to be outsourced, we would expect quality services from our contractors as well.

"Our certification status should motivate them to provide similar level of quality services," he said.

To keep on its continuous improvement, the ITSD has planned to upgrade its existing quality system to align with the new ISO 9001:2000 standard which will be issued by the end of this year.

In view that electronic transactions are gaining popularity throughout the world, the Government, based on international standards, has developed a set of policy and guidelines on the management of information security which is one of the key components in designing electronic transaction applications.

Mr Lau noted that the Government would also comply with open international standards in its adoption of the Public Key Infrastructure technology to provide a secure environment for electronic transactions in Hong Kong.

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