Communications, the Media and Information Technology 373
Government will continue to help the industry explore business opportunities in the Mainland and overseas markets.
To help Hong Kong service suppliers enter the Mainland market and obtain third-party accreditation for their services, the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) allows them to apply for Computer Information System Integration (SI) qualification certification. Also under the CEPA, Guangdong and Hong Kong have jointly implemented a pilot scheme for the mutual recognition of electronic signature certificates for the development of e-commerce in the two places.
To recognise outstanding achievement and to showcase Hong Kong's ICT success at home and abroad, the Government has been collaborating with the local ICT industry in organising Hong Kong ICT Awards since 2006. Many local ICT products and solutions won international awards. For instance, 10 companies won the China Outstanding Software Products Award 2011, 14 won prizes in the Asia Pacific ICT Awards 2011, and one won the World Information Technology and Services Alliance Global ICT Excellence Awards 2010.
The Government supports the development of data centres as an essential infrastructure for the continuing development of the economy. To facilitate the setting up of data centres in Hong Kong, the Office of Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) set up the Data Centre Facilitation Unit in July and launched the 'www.datacentre.gov.hk' website to provide a one-stop service to local and overseas companies interested in setting up data centres in Hong Kong.
To increase land supply for high-tier data centres, the Chief Executive announced in his 2011-12 Policy Address that the Government had reserved about two hectares of land in Tseung Kwan O for data centre use. The first site is expected to be available for bidding in 2013.
Cyberport
The 24-hectare Cyberport is a critical piece of infrastructure for the development and support of IT and related industries in Hong Kong. It brings together a cluster of high quality IT and related enterprises, and facilitates synergy and partnership among members of the ICT industry. Cyberport is home to more than 87 local, Mainland and overseas companies specialising in IT applications, information services and multimedia content creation, including 46 start-up companies undergoing incubation. Cyberport is a major venue for IT and digital entertainment-related conferences in Hong Kong and Asia.
Cyberport also provides the ICT and digital media industries with important infrastructure, technical and resource support and facilitates the development of local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through its industrial support centres.