(b)
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The IIAC will provide advice to the Telecommunications Authority on the development of the Hong Kong information infrastructure.
Within Government, the Director of Information Technology Services maintains an up-to-date government information technology infrastructure. The infrastructure comprises a Government systems architecture which specifies hardware and software standards, common information technology (IT) facilities, compatible data communication networks, a structured set of IT standards and methodologies, quality management and a skilled professional workforce.
To co-ordinate various IT proposals from different departments, the Secretary for the Treasury who is the policy secretary for overseeing the use of IT within Government, is supported by the Computer Strategy Group which comprises representatives from Information Technology Services Department and Finance Branch. The Group is tasked to formulate service-wide IT policies and strategies, prioritise computer projects for funding purposes and to monitor Government's overall IT expenditure.
An important aspect of the government information infrastructure is the use that is made of it. For instance, the Secretary for Home Affairs is tasked with ensuring that the whole of Government is on the Internet in order to disseminate information about Government policies, plans and consultation proposals. An Internet Resources Centre (IRC) has been established within the Information Services Department in March 1997 to assist branches and departments to set up their home pages. The IRC will also develop guidelines on the potential users of the Internet and consider how best to make use of the Internet to improve the dissemination of Government information.