COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee
The Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee was established in August 1998 to advise the government on developing Hong Kong's information infrastructure. Members were drawn from various related sectors, including the IT and telecommunications fields, academia, business and industry. Its establishment helps to ensure that government policies and initiatives on IT development take adequate account of the views of related sectors and the community at large.
IT Co-operation
To take full advantage of the latest developments in IT and to let Hong Kong benefit from the experience and expertise of other countries advanced in this field, a Memorandum of Understanding on IT co-operation was signed with Canada in May and another with Australia in June. The government will continue to explore the possibility of concluding bilateral arrangements on IT co-operation with interested partners.
A working group under the Hong Kong/Guangdong Cooperation Joint Conference was set up in September 1998 to work with the Guangdong authorities on exploring IT co-operation opportunities. A dedicated government-to-government broadband communication link will be established in 1999 to share government information and exchange inter-governmental electronic mail.
Year 2000 Problem ('Millennium Bug')
In view of the widespread impact of the Year 2000 problem for computer systems and embedded systems, a high-level inter-departmental steering committee on Year 2000 compliance was established in March 1998. Publicity programmes were also organised to promote public awareness of the problem. The government will continue to monitor the rectification progress and to organise promotional programmes on the Year 2000 problem throughout 1999.
Recognising the demand from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for specialist advice in solving the Year 2000 problem, the Hong Kong Productivity Council established a Y2K Service Centre in May 1998 which provides them with a range of training, consultancy and solution services for tackling it.
Telecommunications
The
government's
telecommunications policies, implemented by the Telecommunications Authority (TA), are pro-competition and pro-consumer. Supported by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA), the TA oversees the regulation of the telecommunications industry in Hong Kong and administers the ordinances governing the establishment and operation of telecommunications services.
Important developments in Hong Kong's telecommunications sector in 1998 included Hong Kong Telecom International Limited (HKTI)'s early surrender of its exclusive licence for certain external telecommunication services and circuits, consolidation of mobile operators and the licensing of International Simple Resale (ISR) of voice services for operation from January 1, 1999.
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