COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
'smart' ID card will have multi-application capacity to carry other value-added applications. Mobile digital certificates are issued to support the conduct of secure mobile commerce. The Government will also explore the use of voice recognition technology and mobile computing devices in providing government services and enhancing government off-site operation.
IT Co-operation
During the year, Hong Kong signed a Memorandum of Understanding on information and communications technology co-operation with the Republic of Korea. This followed the agreements on co-operative arrangements on information technology reached with Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Finland, India and Israel since 1998. The Government has been working closely with its partners under the aegis of these co-operative arrangements to encourage and support inter- governmental exchanges, business partnerships, investment co-operation and joint research and development in the areas of IT and telecommunications. It will continue to explore the possibility of concluding similar bilateral arrangements on co-operation with other places that are advanced in the use of IT in order to enhance Hong Kong's position as a leading digital city.
Cyberport
In March 1999, the Financial Secretary announced the Government's intention to proceed with the development of the Cyberport at Telegraph Bay, in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island. This will provide an infrastructure for clustering of quality companies specialising in applications of IT, in information services and in creation of multimedia content. The Government is proceeding with the project in co- operation with a private sector company so as to benefit from the expertise and entrepreneurial spirit of the private sector. Construction works have been progressing well, and the Cyberport is scheduled for completion in phases between early 2002 and 2004.
The Cyberport is a comprehensive development that will provide intelligent offices for IT companies, and this will be complemented by a cybercentre providing combined media and technology-focused educational, entertainment and retail facilities and a first-class hotel. The state-of-the-art information infrastructure at the Cyberport will connect the different areas of the integrated Cyberport campus and will link the campus with the rest of the world. The initial scalable bandwidth capacity will see Cyberport tenants comfortably through their first-quarter century of rapid digital development. This will be complemented by a wide range of hi-tech facilities such as multimedia laboratory, content centres, studios, and media conference theatres.
Many companies have already expressed interest in becoming Cyberport tenants. The selection of tenants has been started, based on the applications of the interested companies and acting on the advice of a committee comprising international, local and industry experts. A strategic cluster of IT and IT-related companies will be built up at the Cyberport, starting from early 2002. This cluster will comprise over 100 companies of varying sizes and at different stages of development, ranging from multinational corporations to medium and small-sized overseas and local companies. Situated in a campus-like environment, the Cyberport will be an ideal place for these like-minded companies to apply innovation and technology, to exchange ideas and
381