Adopt IT to seize CEPA business opportunities
26 - 11 - 2003

Businesses must utilise IT to seize the opportunities presented by the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), the Deputy Director of Information Technology Services, Mr Stephen Mak Hung-sung, said today (November 26).

Speaking at the CEPA seminar for small and medium-sized enterprises, he said the Government had been implementing a full range of measures to help businesses improve operating efficiency and enhance competitiveness by adopting IT.

In 1998, the Government promulgated its Digital 21 Strategy, aimed at making Hong Kong a leading digital city. It has actively encouraged and assisted commerce and industry - particularly small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) - to adopt IT to enhance operational efficiency and productivity.

Through multiple channels, including publications, leaflets, CD-ROMs, websites, radio and TV programmes and free seminars, the Government has preached the benefits of IT to SMEs and offered them practical advice on how to use it.

Various support centres were set up by the Government and industry organisations. Examples include the Trade and Industry Department's Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs and Virtual SME Information Centre, the Hong Kong Productivity Council's Digihall 21 and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's Small & Medium Enterprise Centre.

These support centres help SMEs harness IT for their e-business needs by offering information, advice, training and Internet resources under one roof.

The Government allocated an extra $4.7 million to fund the IT Easylink for Business this July. It provides free hotline and face-to-face consultations for SMEs.

Mr Mak said that the Government had set up different funds to accommodate the IT needs of individual industries. These included the Innovation and Technology Fund, the Applied Research Fund and the four SME Funding Schemes, which worth $1.9 billion.

With $890,000 from the SME Funding Schemes, the Government in July this year established the Linux Resource Centre, with a view to helping SMEs adopt open-source software that expands their choice of software and solutions for e-business applications.

Companies can also apply for the SME Training Fund or participate in IT training courses offered by different organisations. And the Cyberport Institute has collaborated with the industry to run IT courses and provide placement opportunities for its students.

"Information security is of paramount importance to the development of e-commerce, and the Government is dedicated to educating the public on cyber security," Mr Mak said. "Besides organising seminars and exhibitions and producing radio and TV programmes, the Information Technology Services Department has set up the Infosec website to provide the public with news on information security."

Government statistics show that the number of organisations with personal computers rose from 50% in 2001 to 55% in 2002. The number of organisations with Internet connection increased from 37% to 44% in the same period, indicating growing IT usage in local business.

Solutions which employ Internet technology and novel software enable enterprises to operate with efficiency and innovation. All businesses, regardless of industry or size, can benefit from the use of IT.

Mr Mak said the Government was conducting a public consultation on the 2004 Digital 21 Strategy, which could lead to more initiatives being launched to promote the use of IT among SMEs, including promotional campaigns tailored to different industries.

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