Government supports IT synergy in local universities

April 6, 2001

The Hong Kong Government fully supports its local universities to establish ties with world-renowned organisations in technological research and development so as to fortify each other's strengths and complement each other.

This was stated by Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mrs Carrie Yau, today (April 6) when addressing the MOU signing ceremony of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control (INRIA), for the development of the INRIA-HKU Joint Research Centre.

Mrs Yau said, "This also accords with the Government's IT manpower strategy to encourage local universities to partner with overseas institutions in the age of globalisation to provide training and research opportunities for local IT students so as to widen their perspective and international outlook."

Mrs Yau noted that France was a pioneer in the development of technologies like wireless communications and smart card while Hong Kong was a successful exploiter of advanced technologies for practical and commercial applications.

Citing examples, she said Hong Kong had a mobile penetration rate of 76 per cent which is amongst the highest in the world; it would soon embark upon the issue of licences for third generation mobile phone services; it had over seven million smart cards circulating in the market for use in payment transactions, the highest utilisation of smart card in the world; and it would roll out the next generation of Hong Kong identity card shortly in 2003.

Mrs Yau said, "It is a natural development that France and Hong Kong should foster strategic partnership and harness on each other's edges to strive for synergy of success.

"I am sure the MOU signed today will only be the first of the many similar co-operations between France and Hong Kong in the field of information and communications technology," she added.

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