Opening Address by Mr. Howard C Dickson, Government Chief Information Officer, at the Linux Forum Asia 2005
15 - 6 - 2005

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning. I am delighted to be here today to officiate the opening of the Linux Forum Asia.

The Linux Forum Asia is a key event of the Brand Neutral Linux Promotion Campaign which aims to introduce and promote the benefits of Linux and Open Source Software (OSS) to the community at large. The Forum today has assembled a host of distinguished speakers with common speciality on Linux and OSS, and provides an invaluable opportunity for information exchange and experience sharing on the subject.

Nowadays, Linux or OSS more generally, is commonly considered as a viable option for deployment in IT infrastructure and business applications. An increasing number of private and public organisations are receptive to OSS, and there is a rising trend of OSS adoption.

In selecting software products and services, the Government emphasizes value for money. Fitness for purpose, functionality, compatibility, support, and total cost of ownership are the primary considerations in procurement. We have no preference for brand names nor particular technologies. We welcome the broadening of product choice as a result of the development of OSS, and will take full advantage of the economic benefits, better quality and better service that product competition brings.

Under these procurement principles, government departments would adopt OSS wherever it meets their business and technical requirements and provides a cost-effective solution to them. As of today, about half of all government departments have installed Linux/OSS solutions. The total number of OSS-based solutions deployed has increased to about 1,500 which is more than 10 times the number in 2002.

We have been promulgating the Interoperability Framework (IF) that guides government departments to adopt open and de facto standards in software selection. The Framework specifies the data standards, technical specifications, conventions, procedures, etc. that departments have to observe when developing joined-up e-government systems. Both OSS and other options are included in the Framework.

Besides internal deployment and facilitation, the Government has been providing different forms of support to encourage the development and adoption of OSS in the business sector and the community at large. For example, the SME Development Fund provided funding for setting up the "Hong Kong Linux Resource Centre" in 2003 and for implementing a "Linux Patch Management System" in 2004 with an aim to support the adoption of OSS by SMEs. We also co-organized with the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) the "Linux Business Adoption Campaign" in 2003 and sponsored the "Linux Business Award" in 2004 with a view to promote OSS in the business sector. Supporting this Forum and the Brand Neutral Linux Promotion Campaign is yet another example of our effort in helping the promotion of OSS.

Last year, we published the new 2004 Digital 21 Strategy with an aim to sustain Hong Kong's position as a leading digital city. Among other things, the Strategy reinforces Government's commitment to facilitating the development of innovative applications, deepening the e-government program, and fostering the development of OSS through provision of funding and other support measures.

No doubt open source technology, including Linux-based solutions, will play an important role in enhancing our ICT (Information and Communication Technology) infrastructure and industry landscape. As revealed in different researches, OSS technology will continue to be one of the most influential IT trends in the foreseeable future. Events and campaigns such as the one featured today will be conducive to this cause. The Forum today will not only bring us to the forefront to appreciate the latest developments of OSS, but will also provide us an excellent opportunity for knowledge and experience sharing that is conducive to wider adoption of the technology. I would like to congratulate the organizers for their success in organizing this meaningful event. I hope all of you would find the Forum today stimulating and rewarding.

Thank you.

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