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Government committed to promoting e-commerce
16 - 11 - 2001
The Government is committed to enhancing the environment for
the conduct of e-commerce so as to retain Hong Kong's competitive
edge and to secure international recognition and investment.
Speaking at an e-commerce seminar today (November 16), the Acting
Director of Information Technology Services, Mr Stephen Mak
Hung-sung, said that promoting e-commerce was a major initiative
of the Government's information technology (IT) strategy.
The seminar on "New Domain of E-commerce" for small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) held today was jointly organised by the Information
Technology Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region Government and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.
"By successfully implementing the various initiatives in the
Digital 21 IT Strategy which was launched by the Government
in 1998, we have substantially enhanced Hong Kong's information
infrastructure and created a strong foundation for growth in
the use of IT and adoption of e-commerce in both the public
and private sectors," said Mr Mak.
"The 2001 Digital 21 Strategy with the theme of 'Connecting
the World' which was released in May this year further builds
on this solid foundation. We will be leveraging IT to position
Hong Kong as a leading e-business community and global digital
city," he said.
In order to enhance the environment conducive to e-commerce
development, the Government has implemented various measures.
One of them is to facilitate an open and competitive telecommunications
environment.
"We have liberalised our external telecommunications facilities
market since 2000," said Mr Mak, "and now Hong Kong already
has one of the best telecommunications infrastructure in the
world."
"The role of the Government is to provide a level playing field
which will bring more effective competition and in turn will
lead to improvement in service quality, as well as better value
to customers," he added.
In the past three years, the Government has successfully developed
the necessary infrastructure for conducting e-business, including
regulations and legislation, public key infrastructure and certification
authorities, Chinese language interface, and the development
of the Cyberport.
"We will continue to enhance Hong Kong's world class e-business
infrastructure," said Mr Mak.
"We will also review within this year the Electronic Transactions
Ordinance to ensure that our legal framework for e-commerce
is in line with international developments."
The construction works of the Cyberport have also been progressing
according to plan, for phased completion between early 2002
and end 2003.
With its state-of-the-art information infrastructure supporting
development of innovative IT products, services and facilitating
e-commerce, the Cyberport will provide a world class environment
to further enhance the competitiveness of the local IT industry.
Recognising the great potential for growth in the adoption of
e-commerce by Hong Kong businesses, the Government has organised
various awareness seminars, exhibitions and provides access
to solution case studies to facilitate the business community
and the industry, especially the SMEs, to enhance their competitiveness
in the information economy.
This will further strengthen our position as a gateway to business
with the Mainland of China, especially with the latter's accession
to the World Trade Organization.
Mr Mak said, "Digital 21 represents Hong Kong's overall strategy
for leadership in the information economy of the 21st century.
We will develop a marketing strategy for enhancing public and
international awareness of Hong Kong's image as an e-business
friendly and leading digital city."
"We have also entered into collaborative arrangements in the
form of Memorandum of Understanding or bilateral agreement with
Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Finland, India, Israel
and the Republic of Korea to enhance co-operation and exchange
in the field of IT and telecommunications."
- ENDS -
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