More public services to be put online

January 19, 2001

The full launch of the Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) Scheme today (January 19) not only marks a breakthrough in public service delivery in Hong Kong but also breathes life into our promise of making Hong Kong the IT hub of Asia.

The Scheme, a key initiative under the Government's "Digital 21" Information Technology Strategy, aims at developing Hong Kong into a leading digital city in the globally connected world and completely transforms the way in which public services are delivered.

It will initially provide over 60 types of public services from more than 20 Government departments and public agencies through a single portal which is accessible 24 hours a day and seven days a week. All of this can be done online at one's own convenience.

This was stated by the Acting Chief Executive, Mrs Anson Chan, when officiating at the Grand Launching Ceremony of the ESD Scheme this afternoon.

Mrs Chan noted that members of the public would no longer need to queue at counters in Government offices during office hours to renew a driving or vehicle licence, pay tax or apply for a business registration certificate, etc.

"These services can be accessed through personal computers, or public computer facilities at community centres, post offices or public libraries; or at smartly-designed public kiosks installed in MTR or KCR stations, shopping malls, supermarkets, and Government premises."

"From now onwards, waiting in line will be replaced by transacting online," she said. Over 70 public kiosks are already in operation, and the number will reach 100 in the next few months.

Acknowledging concern about security in electronic transactions, Mrs Chan assured the public that transactions were secure and personal data would be well protected.

The ESD Scheme has adopted state-of-the-art technologies in areas like electronic authentication, data encryption and electronic payment gateway. "In this particular aspect, Hong Kong is as advanced, if not more so, than any other city in the world today," she stressed.

The ESD portal is one of the first web sites that integrates both public and private sector services in a citizen-centric approach. Deloitte Consulting recently cited the portal in the Asian Wall Street Journal as a good example of e-government, the successful implementation of which "could prove a precursor to an Asian era of integrated, boundary-less, customer-focused public service".

Some ESD applications require the use of digital certificates to authenticate the identity of users. The public may apply for digital certificates from the Hongkong Post, which, starting from today (January 19), accepts online application through the Internet. Those who had registered with the Hongkong Post earlier this month would receive a free smart card embedded with Hongkong Post e-Cert, which can be used at public kiosks to access ESD services.

Users accessing ESD services through the Internet from their own personal computers will have to download the necessary software, e.g. software for data encryption, etc., from the web site when using the service for the first time. A CD-ROM with the necessary software is distributed by the ESD operator to the public which could minimise the downloading time.

Mrs Chan pledged that the Government would continue to enhance the public services available through ESD. "Within this year, we will roll out new services including booking of sports and leisure activities, sales of Government publications, registration to sit for public examinations, reservation of marriage dates and real-time traffic video," Mrs Chan said.

She also paid tribute to ESD Services Limited, a joint venture between Hutchison Global Crossing and Compaq Computer, for developing and operating the system for the Government. "The implementation of the Scheme demonstrates an innovative partnership model between the Government and the private sector," she said.

Mrs Chan also commended all the participating Government departments and public agencies for the efforts they had made in bringing the ESD Scheme to fruition. "I know it was no easy task developing a bold concept into reality within a mere space of two years," she added.

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