Objective

In October 1999, the Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee (IIAC) decided that a task force should be set up with the objective to identify a framework which best suits Hong Kong for administering and assigning Internet domain names and Internet protocol addresses, having regard to the initiatives and directions set by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

Terms of Reference

The Task Force reported to the IIAC with the following terms of reference -

1. to review the existing policy and arrangements related to the administration of the country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) of Hong Kong, i.e. .hk;

2. to review the existing policy and arrangements related to the administration of Internet protocol addresses used by the community of Hong Kong;

3. to review the existing system and procedures for assigning and managing Internet domain names and Internet protocol addresses in Hong Kong; and

4. to make recommendations on how the existing arrangements and procedures can be improved to the best advantage of the Hong Kong community having regard to international and regional developments.

Composition

The Task Force was chaired by Professor Charles Kao (IIAC member) and comprises the following members -

• Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting (Vice Chairman);

• Professor Francis Chin, IIAC member;

• a representative of the Joint Universities Computer Centre;

• a representative of the Hong Kong Network Information Centre;

• a representative of the Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association;

• a representative of the Consumer Council;

• a representative of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce;

• a representative of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce;

• a representative of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation;

• a representative of the Hong Kong Telecommunications Users Group;

• Director of Information Technology Services or his representative;

• Director-General of Telecommunications or his representative; and

• Director of Intellectual Property or his representative.

Work Schedule

The work schedule for the Task Force was as follows -