HK, France sign MOU on IT, communications technology

March 14, 2002

The following is issued jointly by the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry of the Government of France and the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China:

Hong Kong and France today (March 14) signed a wide ranging Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on co-operation in information and communications technology.

The MOU was signed by Mr Christian Pierret, Minister for Industry, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Trade and Craft Industries, and Consumer Affairs, representing France and Mrs Carrie Yau, Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, representing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The MOU encompasses an extensive range of co-operative activities, ranging from the sharing of policy and regulatory information and commercial and academic exchanges to business, investment and technology partnerships.

The French Minister expressed his gratitude for Mrs Yau's visit to France and his great satisfaction regarding the signature of the MOU, which will pave the way to a strengthened co-operation between institutions in charge of the development of the Information Society in France and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region but also between IT and telecommunications companies of both sides.

Mrs Yau welcomed the MOU which would significantly strengthen Hong Kong-French relationship. She said: "Advances in information and communications technology are breaking down geographical and time barriers and bringing people from different parts of the world closer together. Hong Kong has strong ties with France which is our tenth largest trading partner in the world. There are some 500 French companies in Hong Kong, and more than 130 of them have established regional headquarters or regional offices in the territory. "

"Through our concerted efforts, I am confident that the MOU will benefit the information and communications technology industries of both sides," she added.

"And now that Mainland China is a member of the World Trade Organisation, Hong Kong IT and telecommunications companies, with their knowledge of the Mainland market, can be the strategic partners for their French counterparts to explore the huge Mainland market," she appealed to the French industry.

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