Creating a healthy cyber world

Eight teams of youngsters from local schools and youth centres today (February 7) demonstrated their commitment to promoting healthy browsing of the Internet by means of videos, drama and PowerPoint presentation. The themes of their presentation ranged from parents-children relations to pitfalls in the virtual world.

Their efforts and determination were applauded by some 400 young people, teachers and parents attending the awards presentation ceremony of the "Creating a Healthy Cyber World" scheme this morning.

Jointly organised by Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) and Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG), the scheme was launched in October last year to enhance the awareness of young people about the problems of security, privacy, and obscene materials on the Internet, so as to promote healthy browsing in cyberspace. The scheme comprises an Animation Design Competition, a seminar and a Thematic Project Competition.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Communications and Technology), Mr Francis Ho, said that teenagers were frequent users of the Internet. In spite of its versatility, the Internet may have harmful effects on the development of the younger generation if they are exposed to unhealthy information and materials in the cyber world.

"We realise that it is practically impossible to stem completely all these unhealthy materials on the Internet. Our past experiences show that, apart from stringent law enforcement, it is of utmost importance to promote the proper use of the Internet to the community, youngsters in particular.

We therefore have joined with non-government agencies to organise a variety of activities to educate young people on the proper way to browse the Internet, and to protect them from being affected by undesirable information," he said.

Mr Ho pointed out that the Internet Content Rating System (ICRS) Project was another effective measure to eliminate undesirable Internet information. Under the system, webmasters on a voluntary basis will declare their website content and obtain a content label. Internet users can then download a free label filter software to allow or disallow access to a particular website based on their own preferences.

"More than 200 local websites have been labelled since the system was launched in June last year. We hope that through the cooperation of the industry, schools and parents, our young people can stay away from the undesirable information on the Internet," Mr Ho said.

The Executive Director of HKFYG, Dr Rosanna Wong, said, "In the Internet world with explosions of information, young people must be equipped with good analytical ability. They should also be well aware of their responsibilities in the process of building a healthy cyber world. Through participation and study, our youngsters have learnt to identify the problem and work out a solution. The educational purpose of the scheme was well achieved."

The winning entries of the Animation Design Competition were also displayed in the venue and winners were invited to share their design concepts and ideas with the guests.

The scheme has attracted the participation of more than 900 youngsters - about 250 in the Animation Design Competition, 120 for the seminar, 130 in the Thematic Project Competition, and nearly 400 in today's final contest and awards presentation ceremony.

Saturday, February 7, 2004

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