Hong Kong and the Netherlands sign MOU

April 9, 2002

Hong Kong and the Netherlands today (April 9) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on co-operation in information technology, information services and telecommunications.

The MOU was signed by Mr Mark Frequin, Director-General of Telecommunications and Post, representing the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management of the Netherlands, and Mr Alan Siu, Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, representing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The MOU envisages a wide range of co-operative activities between the two places, ranging from commercial and industrial exchanges to investment and technology partnerships, and from exchange of information on policy and regulatory framework to promoting business collaboration.

Mr Siu welcomed the signing of the MOU which is a significant step forward in fostering a closer relationship between Hong Kong and the Netherlands in the fields of IT and telecommunications. He said: "International co-operation is crucial to ensure our success in the knowledge-based economy. This is a key element under our Digital 21 Strategy."

"Through this co-operative framework, both Hong Kong and the Netherlands can build on each other's strengths to enhance the development of IT and telecommunications in both places, and create new business opportunities for each other's industry," he added.

Mr Siu also welcomed the decision of Dutch electronics company Philips to put its Asia base in Hong Kong. Philips has announced that its office in Singapore will be moved to Hong Kong for consolidation with its local office here to form its Asia-Pacific Headquarters. With the availability of advanced infrastructure in Hong Kong, Philips is studying to concentrate its high-tech activities here. "This further strengthens the collaboration between Hong Kong and the Netherlands," Mr Siu said.

There are now over 260 Dutch companies in Hong Kong and over a hundred of them have set up regional headquarters or regional offices here.

"As China has entered into the World Trade Organisation, we can build on our competitive edges to help our counterparts in the Netherlands to explore the massive opportunities in the IT and telecommunications fields in the Mainland market," he added.

Mr Siu also introduced at the bilateral meeting with Mr Frequin the latest IT development in Hong Kong, including the Cyberport project. With the clustering of multinational and local IT companies and the provision of state-of-the art facilities, the Cyberport could play a key role in facilitating collaborative activities between Hong Kong and the Netherlands.

Hong Kong has since May 1998 entered into similar arrangements on IT co-operation with nine other countries which are advanced in the use of IT. This is also the fifth MOU that we have entered into with members of the EU. Other EU countries have also expressed keen interest in concluding similar arrangements with Hong Kong.

Under these co-operative arrangements, Hong Kong and its EU partners will organise a wide range of collaborative activities which will benefit each other. These include participation in ITU Telecom Asia 2002 in Hong Kong, organisation of physical and virtual trade missions for the IT and telecommunications companies, etc.

The Dutch delegation, led by Mr Frequin, also visited the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, Information Technology Services Department, Hongkong Post and Invest Hong Kong for exchange during its trip here.

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