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First private company to become a recognized certification
authority
26 - 07 - 2001
The Director of Information Technology Services (the Director),
Mr Alan Wong Chi-kong, today (July 26) granted recognition to
Digi-Sign Certification Services Limited (Digi-Sign) as a recognized
certification authority under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
To foster the development of electronic commerce in Hong Kong,
the Government has taken the initiative under the Digital 21
Strategy to provide a secure environment for the conduct of
electronic transactions by members of the public. As part of
this initiative, the Government has established the voluntary
recognition scheme for certification authorities under the Electronic
Transactions Ordinance.
A certification authority issues digital certificates to subscribers,
allowing them to conduct electronic transactions with other
parties in a secure manner.
Digi-Sign is the first certification authority to apply for
recognition under the voluntary recognition scheme.
"The Government encourages the private sector to provide services
as certification authorities. To keep regulatory control to
the minimum, there is no mandatory licensing requirement for
certification authorities to operate in Hong Kong. Instead,
certification authorities may apply to the Director for recognition
under the voluntary recognition scheme," said a spokesman for
the Information Technology Services Department (ITSD).
Being a recognized certification authority will enhance public
confidence in using the service of the certification authority,
because the Director will only recognise applicants who have
reached a trustworthy standard acceptable to the Government.
The Postmaster General is also a recognized certification authority
as provided under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance, and
started operation of the Hongkong Post Certification Authority
in January 2000.
"Having a second recognized certification authority in Hong
Kong expands the base of our information security infrastructure
for different sectors of the community. More people or organisations
will be able to use recognized digital certificates to conduct
electronic transactions in accordance with individual requirements,"
the spokesman added.
Under the voluntary recognition scheme, the Director may also
grant recognition on application to digital certificates issued
by a recognized certification authority. Digi-Sign will issue
two types of recognized digital certificates, one for individuals
and one for organisations.
More details of the voluntary recognition scheme are available
on the web site of ITSD (http://www.itsd.gov.hk/itsd).
Under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance, the Director needs
to maintain a disclosure record for each recognized certification
authority. The disclosure record for Digi-Sign is also available
on the ITSD web site.
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