1. "Generic" services, which can be used by many types of business,
government or residential users, e.g. :
- electronic mail services
data speed, code or protocol conversion
store-and-forward and/or "broadcast" telex
voice mailbox services (centralized answering machine concept)
videotex
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database access
2. "Industry specific" services, whose application is for one particular
sector or industry, e.g. :
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airline networks (SITA, ARINC, Cathay Pacific CORUS network, etc.) manufacturing networks (e.g. ODETTE, MAP, TOPS)
- financial services networks (e.g. Reuters, Telerate, Quotron, etc.)
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international transport/shipping/customs networks
insurance/re-insurance networks
retail and distribution networks (e.g. TRADANET)
- rail transport networks (e.g. HERMES)
specialized databases for most professional, commercial and manufacturing sectors
Often the concepts of the former group (the "generic" services) are used to provide services of the latter type (the "industry specific" services). Generic services can often be useful in their own right, but increasingly world trends place emphasis on further development of "industry networks". In fact such networks may be seen as the present new frontier in the development of useful applications for computer and communications systems. Computer/communications systems have for many years been applied with increasing success to information processing problems within companies and organizations. The result has been a high degree of automated information transfer within companies, yet communication between companies trading with each other has remained largely paper based. The computerization of these "between company" processes is a significant task, requiring agreement on standards and on the legal status of messages. Successful networks have already developed on a world scale in some sectors (e.g. airlines, financial services) and are being developed in others (see the list of examples above).
It
Hong Kong's economy is heavily dependent on trade on a world scale. is a highly competitive producer, as well as having excellent shipping, trading and air transport facilities. If this competitive advantage is to be maintained in future, Hong Kong companies concerned with all aspects of trade will need to obtain a high level of access to such networks in future. Most such networks will not of course have been "invented" in Hong Kong, though local agents and or offices for these network services will be appointed in most cases.
At present there are four main and interlinked reasons why access to such networks is restricted in Hong Kong :
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