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Issuing of bulk tender to Internet Service Providers
Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for the Treasury, Mr K C Kwong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
The Information Services Department and the Information Technology Services Department announced earlier this year that a bulk tender would be issued to all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) by May of this year, so as to meet the huge demand for Internet services by the Government and to reduce administrative costs. However, it is learnt that the bulk tender has not yet been issued up to the present moment. In this connection, will the Administration inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
whether it has laid down any guidelines regarding its acquisition of Internet services from ISPs; and
of the reasons for the delay in issuing the bulk tender and when such a tender will be issued?
Reply:
(a)
The Information Technology Services Department ("ITSD") has advised Departments on the acquisition of Internet services from ISPs. The advice requires Departments -
to acquire services only from licensed ISPs,
to consider the support services offered by the provider and the type of transmission bandwidth on offer, and
to use only a dial-up service to connect to those of their workstations not connected in any way to their operational network.
ITSD has also advised Departments that they may acquire Web page design services directly from ISPs or other companies that offer this kind of service.