ENG-1999 — Page 403

COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

information integrity and security. This would enable information to be shared across departments, support policy formulation and decision-making, accelerate system development, ensure optimum use of modern information technology and allow for departmental needs to be met on a unified and integrated platform.

The Information Technology Services Department (ITSD) has established a physical backbone network infrastructure to facilitate network connections among all bureaux and departments. Such a network infrastructure includes a broadband-based infrastructural design for all new government office buildings, the installation of a structured fibre-optic cabling system and the provision of services for network routeing and switching. An Electronic Messaging Backbone supporting multiple messaging protocols has also been built on the physical backbone network infrastructure for both internal communication and communication with the public. The ITSD is also establishing a Secure Central Internet Gateway System to enable government bureaux and departments to disseminate information, communicate and transact business with the public over the Internet through a secure and centrally managed gateway. The gateway will be ready by March 2000.

A Government Office Automation programme aimed at improving communication within and among bureaux and departments is being implemented. The first phase of the programme, covering 22 bureaux and Secretariat offices, was completed in 1996. The second phase, targeted to be completed by the end of 2000, covers all other government departments, and the implementation work for 48 departments has been completed.

A Development and Disaster Recovery Centre has been established within the ITSD to provide standby computer disaster recovery services to government departments and related organisations. This is essential to the uninterrupted delivery of critical government services to the public. All critical mainframe/mid-range administrative applications of government departments are covered by this service.

'Digital 21' IT Strategy

The Government is committed to keeping Hong Kong in the forefront of IT development. To this end, the 'Digital 21' IT Strategy was formulated in November 1998. This strategy sets out the vision, initiatives and targets on how the Government, business, industry and academia can work together to make Hong Kong a leading digital city in a globally connected world. The various initiatives in the strategy have been taken forward in earnest.

IT Co-operation

Hong Kong signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on IT co-operation with the United Kingdom in June. This followed the signing of MOUS with Canada and Australia in 1998. The Government has been working closely with its partners under the auspices of the MOUs to encourage and support inter-governmental exchanges, business partnerships, investment co-operation, and research and development in the areas of IT and communications. It will continue to explore the possibility of concluding similar bilateral arrangements on IT co-operation with interested partners.

In the establishment of a common interface for using Chinese in electronic communication and data exchange between the Government and the community, a

341