ENG-2004 — Page 466

400 Communications, the Media and Information Technology

|

the social services sector and the private sector. The fund aims to provide financial support for digital inclusion programmes and engage different stakeholders in designing and implementing digital inclusion strategies for Hong Kong. The Government injected $1 million into the fund in 2004. The Government also helped raise donations from the private sector and by year end, the fund received an additional $650,000 from commercial sponsors. Other initiatives to bridge the digital divide included district IT promotion activities, a dedicated website and 'infotainment' TV programmes that disseminate information on the Government's IT initiatives and latest developments in IT. Free IT awareness courses also provided basic training to different sectors of the community. Over 5 300 public computers with Internet connection are available across Hong Kong for free use by the public. There is also a free public enquiry service on the use of basic IT applications called IT Easy Link. Moreover, all government websites are in compliance with universal accessibility guidelines to facilitate access and navigation by people with visual disabilities.

IT Cooperation

Hong Kong has concluded cooperative arrangements in information and communications technology with 12 countries Canada, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The Government has been working closely with these partners to promote and support inter-governmental exchanges, business partnerships, investment cooperation and joint research and development in the areas of IT and telecommunications. It will continue to explore opportunities to foster cooperation in the field of information and communication technology with these partners.

Cyberport

Located at Telegraph Bay in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island, Cyberport aims to create a strategic cluster of quality IT and IT-related companies and professionals. Cyberport is wholly owned by the Government through three private companies set up under the Financial Secretary Incorporated.

Cyberport comprises a comprehensive commercial development with about 95 000 square metres of Grade A office space, a shopping arcade and a five-star hotel. The commercial portion was completed in June 2004. An ancillary residential development, will be completed between 2004 and 2008.

Tenants of Cyberport are admitted based on the advice of a committee comprising local and international experts. By the end of 2004, 33 tenants have signed leases with Cyberport, taking up 42 per cent of the available office space. These include local, Mainland and overseas companies specialising in IT applications, information services and multimedia content creation.

Since its opening in November 2003, the Cyberport Institute of the University of Hong Kong, together with six corporate/industry partners, has been providing market-driven IT training programmes to both IT professionals and graduates from non-IT-related disciplines. Apart from formal education and training provided by the Cyberport Institute, Cyberport is becoming one of the major venues for IT and digital entertainment related conferences in Hong Kong and Asia. From 2002 to 2004, over