ENG-2001 — Page 458

COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

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Hongkong Post, a series of activities was conducted during the year to sustain the momentum of service improvement. It will continue to invest in staff training and development to maintain staff alertness and techniques in providing quality service to

customers.

Hongkong Post celebrated its 160th anniversary on August 25. A series of activities was organised during the year, including a lighting ceremony at the General Post Office, issue of a 160th anniversary prestige stamp booklet, a 'Free Post Day' for local students, display of special exhibits at the Postal Gallery, a morale-boosting cultural event for staff, and a staff dinner.

To promote electronic commerce in Hong Kong, Hongkong Post had established the first public and legally recognised Certification Authority (CA) and launched the Hongkong Post e-Cert service on January 31, 2000, marking a milestone in the development of electronic commerce in Hong Kong. The Hongkong Post CA service provides a secure environment that addresses the basic concerns of authenticity, integrity, confidentiality and non-repudiation in doing business in cyber space. The Hongkong Post CA issues and manages digital certificates for individuals and businesses to facilitate secure electronic transactions conducted over an open network. With the use of digital certificates, subscribers can electronically prove their identity and digitally sign in the same way as in the paper-based world under the legal framework of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.

In support of the launching of the Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) Scheme in January, Hongkong Post issued over 4000 free 'smart' cards embedded with Hongkong Post e-Cert, which can be used at the ESD Information Kiosks located throughout Hong Kong to facilitate public access to government services on-line. These 'smart' cards enable the card-holders to conduct secure Internet transactions at the ESD Information Kiosks for government services.

In May, Visa International, the world's largest payment system, forged a strategic collaboration with Hongkong Post with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of a Hongkong Post e-Cert-enabled Open Platform 'smart' card to give end-users greater convenience, personal security and protection. Regarding cross-certification, a co-operation document between Hongkong Post and Shanghai Electronic Certificate Authority Centre Co., Ltd. was signed in May to explore the establishment of a reliable and seamless cross- certification system between Hong Kong and Shanghai CAs and the feasibility of establishing a CA system in Chinese for Hongkong Post.

In October, Hongkong Post and Diversinet Corp. of Toronto, Canada, jointly launched Hongkong Post Mobile e-Cert. The launch puts Hong Kong in the forefront in mobile commerce security with the creation of the world's first public mobile CA. The new Mobile e-Certs will be available for individuals and businesses to authenticate the identity of subscribers over virtually all types of mobile devices, including Personal Digital Assistants and mobile handsets.

The international courier service, Speedpost, maintained its role in serving both the business community and individuals. The delivery network has been extended to 92 destinations including the major trading partners such as the Mainland, Japan, the United States, Taiwan and Australia.

The on-line Internet booking facility for swift pick-up service is another example of Speedpost service enhancements for the greater convenience of customers. Other