Speech by Mr. Alan Wong, Director of Information Technology Services at the Award Ceremony of the "Web Services Xcellence Awards Competition"
24 - 10 - 2002

Mr. Phibbs, Mr. Lai, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me start by saying how delighted I am to be able to participate in the Award Ceremony of the Web Services Xcellence Awards. Today's ceremony not only allows me to share the joy with the award winners, but also gives me the opportunity to appreciate the creativity and power brought about by the Web and its latest technology.

Undoubtedly, with the advent of the Internet and the Web, Information Technology (IT) has been changing the world in every facet of our life. Recognising the importance of IT, the HKSAR Government has committed to developing Hong Kong into a leading digital city in the globally connected world.

To achieve this target, we have been vigorously implementing the "Digital 21" IT Strategy since 1998. While Hong Kong has already been in possession of an advanced telecommunications network and a modern information infrastructure, it is more fundamental to develop our people with the knowledge, skills and attitude to meet the challenges of the Information Age.

Through the Web Services Xcellence Awards and other similar activities, we hope that IT skills and knowledge of our professional developers and fellow students can be further promoted. Our ultimate goal is to develop our local quality workforce with good command of IT.

To drive the wider adoption of IT in the connected world, we must break down the barriers among systems, organisations and people. Interoperability is the key. Based on common and open standards, Web Services provide tremendous opportunities to increase interoperability. I understand that many major vendors, including Microsoft, are pushing Web Services and have agreed to some common standards such as XML and SOAP.

To enable seamless integration of information systems owned by different bureaux and departments, the HKSAR Government is making preparation for the establishment of an Interoperability Framework to facilitate interoperability among systems within the Government, and between Government and external systems. The Framework is basically a collection of guidance documents and specifications and it will be based on open standards, including XML, as far as possible.

The Framework is not intended to apply to the private sector. However, the business community and members of the public may wish to know something about it when they build or upgrade existing computer systems which may interact with Government systems to ensure smooth electronic communication with the departments concerned.

We have recently formed an XML Co-ordination Group comprising XML adopters within the Government and experts from the private sector to help develop a strategy for more effective use of XML in the Government. The Group will enable the sharing of best practices of doing e-business and will allow the creation of synergies within and amongst different sectors.

Well, I think I have said too much about what we are doing to promote E-government. Back to the Web Services Xcellence Awards. It is indeed a good initiative to promote XML and Web Services. I would like to take this opportunity to commend Microsoft Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Computer Society for taking the lead by organising this contest. I would also like to pay tribute to the judges who have the unenviable task of picking winners from the entries which are very impressive. This task is far from easy!

To the Award winners, I extend my warmest congratulations to you for your outstanding performance. And to all contestants, I would like to tell you that you are all winners. The essential thing is that you have taken your own initiative to study and learn the latest technologies in preparing your entry. I am sure you have already got your own reward through participating in the contest.

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