Speech by Mrs Jessie Ting, Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting at the IT Capabilities and Partnering Forum of II Expo and Conference 2000

17 March 2000

Mr Lynch, Mr Fine, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to take part in this IT Capabilities and Partnering Forum. It is encouraging to see so many Canadian companies participating in this year's Hong Kong Information Infrastructure Expo (HKII Expo) and today's Forum to showcase your technological capabilities in the IT and telecommunications fields.

Since the signing of the Hong Kong/Canada Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in Information and Communications Technology in May 1998, the two sides have put in concerted efforts to encourage bilateral investment and technology partnership and to promote commercial, industrial and educational exchanges. The holding of this Forum today and the setting up of the Canadian Pavilion in the HKII Expo featuring Canada's world-leading IT capabilities bear witness to the development of closer economic ties between Hong Kong and Canada.

During the past two years, we have seen a good number of exciting joint initiatives between Canadian and Hong Kong companies. To cite a few examples. Canada's Multiactive Software have recently teamed up with our ABC Data & Telecom to prepare for further market expansion in Asia for their Internet-ready software. Nortel has struck a technology partnership with Sunday of Hong Kong for the development of high-speed wireless data and mutlimedia services. Canada's SMART Technologies has allied with our Eduserve International for the distribution of PC-interactive and touch-sensitive whiteboard for schools and training purposes. These and other successful examples demonstrate the emergence of a winning business formula by combining Canadian technology with Hong Kong's entrepreneurship and marketing expertise.

To develop Hong Kong into a leading digital city, my office, the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau, is committed to providing a favourable environment for e-commerce to take hold and flourish in Hong Kong. The Electronic Transactions Ordinance was enacted earlier this year to provide a clear legal framework for the conduct of electronic transactions. We have established a local public key infrastructure supported by certification authorities to provide a safe and secure environment for e-business. To set an example for the business sector, Government will itself become a leading participant in e-commerce through launching the Electronic Service Delivery Scheme, the first phase of which will be up and running this October. Under the ESD scheme, the public will be able to obtain services via the Internet and other electronic means round the clock in a seamless manner. We are also organising a variety of publicity and promotional activities in collaboration with trade associations and industry support organisations to encourage local small and medium-sized enterprises to go on-line.

With these initiatives, e-business will boom here. There will be a substantial growth in demand for high quality IT and software solutions to support this development, and a lot more business opportunities in the IT field. Canadian technology companies like yours have innovative IT products and services to offer. I can assure you that you will find a receptive market here in Hong Kong and an excellent foothold to further expand into the Mainland market and the regional market.

Thank you.

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