XN000022-1995-07-26 — Page 54

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In addition to the above, through Tradelink, a joint venture company formed between the Government and the private sector, a Community Electronic Trading Service will be launched in 1996. The objective of this service is to promote the use of Electronic Data Interchange and the concept of electronic commerce by over 100,000 small and medium size businesses in Hong Kong.

(b) Over the past decade, the Government has invested over $200 million in the school education service to help enhance the knowledge of computer networks and its usage among young people. Of this amount, about $110 million is being spent between 1993/94 and 1995/96 on providing every student in a computer practical class access to his own computer.

More

The subject of computer literacy, which covers the basic idea of computer networking, is taught in Secondary 1-3 classes. computer subjects, which cover various types of networks and their operation, are provided in senior secondary and sixth form classes. Students gain hands-on experience in accessing computer networks in the sixth form computer classes.

In 1992, the Education Department launched a Sixth Form Computer Subjects Project to help schools introduce the computer subject at Advanced-Supplementary and Advanced levels. Each school joining this project has been provided with additional computer facilities including 31 sets of computers, a Modulator/Demodulator (MODEM) and other relevant hardware and software for accessing computer networks. So far 77 schools have joined the project and another 48 schools will join this September.

Outside the curriculum, students of 23 schools have access to computer networks through participating in programmes provided by the City University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Through these programmes, students are able to practise computer communications skills with other users of the networks, both local and

overseas.

Local tertiary and technical education institutions also offer computer science degree and sub-degree programmes as well as computer courses of various levels for students of other disciplines. Some of these institutions have also established extensive computer networking facilities for general use by students in campus.

End/Wednesday, July 26, 1995