New working group to promote wireless technology

The Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee (IIAC) approved at its meeting today (June 12) the setting up of an ad hoc working group to promote the adoption of wireless technology and services in Hong Kong.

The working group will focus on the promotion of wider adoption of wireless technology and services at the enterprise level. It will identify problems and obstacles facing the industry, and propose concrete actions and measures to promote the use of wireless technology and services by the business sector.

The group will comprise interested IIAC members and co-opted members who have the relevant experience and expertise. The group is expected to complete its tasks in 3 months.

The IIAC members were also briefed on the proposal to open up for commercial exploitation the intellectual property (IP) in the information technology (IT) systems and software developed by contractors for Government use so as to help create more business opportunities for the local IT industry. Members supported the proposal in principle and made a number of suggestions to improve the proposed arrangements.

A spokesman for the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau said, "opening up the IP in Government IT systems can encourage the IT industry to explore further application opportunities. This will help promote the development of the local IT industry.

"The wider use of the IT systems developed for and used by Hong Kong Government elsewhere will also help enhance our status as a leading digital city and strengthen the international position of the Hong Kong IT industry.

"The Government will carefully consider the suggestions of the IIAC members before finalising the arrangements."

At the meeting, representatives of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council briefed members on its promotion strategy for the information and communications technology industry in the years 2003-04 and 2004-05 to assist the industry in exploring external markets.

In this regard, the meeting also recommended that a vision or strategy on how the Hong Kong IT industry should position itself should be drawn up. They also proposed a number of short, medium and long term measures to support the development of the local IT industry.

The CITB spokesman said that the Government would study these recommendations in detail, and the Government would shortly start a review of the 2001 Digital 21 Strategy. The positioning of Hong Kong's IT industry would be an important, integral part of the review.

Members were also briefed on the latest developments of multimedia messaging services (MMS), and the current development of grid computing, which allows access to computers, software, data and other resources via a multi-institutional virtual platform for problem solving.

Chaired by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, the IIAC is an advisory body established since August 1998 to advise the Government on how to drive IT development in Hong Kong. The committee comprises three other official members and 15 unofficial members appointed by the Chief Executive from the IT and business sectors and the academic field.

Thursday, June 12, 2003

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