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Deputy to Governor visits ITSD

The Deputy to the Governor, Mrs Anson Chan today (Thursday) visited the Information Technology Services Department (ITSD) to appreciate the work of the department in enabling its government counterparts to take the full advantage of modern information technology (IT).

Mrs Chan was interested in knowing the latest progress of computerisation in various government departments and, in particular, how they can make full use of computers in achieving cost-effectiveness and improving their services to the community.

Accompanied by the Director of Information Technology Services, Mr K H Lau, Mrs Chan began her visit with a tour of the ITSD computer centre which provides common computer facilities to government departments and supports the government communications network.

Apart from being briefed on the work of the department, Mrs Chan also saw demonstrations on the use of advanced computer tools in system design and development, the use of multi-media technology to provide interactive public enquiries services, the interlink between a hand-held computer and a remote computer by mobile phone, and the potential application of smart card technology.

The Deputy to the Governor was told that computers had now become more and more widely used in all government departments.

The ITSD is now maintaining some 190 application systems and is implementing over 180 approved IT projects for various government departments.. The total value of computers installed, including 10 mainframe, 270 mid-range and over 31,200 microcomputer systems, is over $2,200 million.

Among the major IT projects in hand is the implementation of information systems strategy plans of the Inland Revenue Department and the Information Services Department to be completed within this financial year. The two projects are expected to generate a total five-year savings of some $500 million for the two departments.

Also included is the implementation of local area networks (LAN) and office systems for all government departments in two stages in the next three years with the first stage for 22 departments to be completed by end of this year.