Simplified Chinese character version of Government websites launched

Chinese communities over the world can now access traditional or simplified Chinese character version of Hong Kong Government websites by an easy click of button.

Starting from December 2002, a simplified Chinese character version has been introduced in Government websites, in addition to the traditional Chinese character version, to enhance the accessibility of the web sites to other Chinese communities, in particular people in the Mainland of China. This will help facilitate the development of e-business with these communities.

This new service, aimed at enhancing the accessibility of Government websites to Chinese communities outside Hong Kong, is one of the initiatives under the Digital 21 IT Strategy to enhance the e-business environment of Hong Kong.

A spokesman for the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau said today (January 26) that this was made possible by the adoption of an advanced web-based conversion technology developed by a small and medium enterprise (SME) in the local IT industry.

"With this technology, webmasters only need to prepare the web content in traditional Chinese characters. A simplified Chinese character version of the same content will then be produced automatically by a conversion software installed in Government servers. The simplified Chinese character version can be accessed at Government web sites through a simple click of button.

"This is a leading-edge web-based conversion technology developed in the greater China region. It brings more convenience for the Chinese communities around the world to access the information on Hong Kong Government's websites, and minimises the cost and manpower of Government departments to provide the service by obviating the need to prepare and maintain a separate simplified Chinese character version of their web contents. Changes made to the text of the traditional Chinese character version will be automatically effected in the simplified Chinese character version through the conversion software. No physical process needs to be involved to separately make the same changes to the simplified Chinese character version."

"Now, viewers over the Internet can choose to view the content of Government websites in English, traditional Chinese character or simplified Chinese character simply by a click of button, without installing any additional conversion software at their end," the spokesman said.

Automated Systems (HK) Ltd was awarded a contract to provide this new service through an open tendering exercise in August last year, using the conversion software developed by Kanhan Technologies Ltd.

Kanhan Technologies Ltd is an SME in the local IT industry and is one of the companies which has received assistance from the Small Entrepreneur Research Assistance Programme (SERAP) - a funding programme established under the HK$5 billion Innovation and Technology Fund.

The SERAP is set up to provide seed money to technopreneur start-ups which have projects with innovative and technological contents and chances of commercial success.

"The success of this local SME to commercialise its patented technology for market application is a successful example of the SERAP in helping Hong Kong's entrepreneurs turning innovative ideas into commercial application. It also reflects the quality standard of the local companies in the development of Internet software and technology," the spokesman said.

Sunday, January 26, 2003

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