ENG-2005 — Page 431

Communications, the Media and Information Technology | 373

Building a Digitally Inclusive Society

The Government encourages citizens to use IT to enhance their competitiveness and quality of life. It will continue to organise various activities and initiatives to promote wider adoption and raise public awareness of IT in the community. The Digital Solidarity Fund which is jointly operated by the Government, the social services sector and the private sector, was set up in December 2004 with the backing of the Government. The fund provides financial support for digital inclusion programmes and engages different stakeholders in designing and implementing digital inclusion strategies for Hong Kong. The Government injected $1 million into the fund in 2004-05 and it also received an additional $750,000 from commercial sponsors. In 2005, six projects, which were selected out of 58 applications, received $1 million from the fund to support various activities to bridge the digital divide. Other initiatives to build a computer and Internet-literate society included district IT promotion activities, a dedicated website, radio programmes 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 computers with Internet connection are available across Hong Kong for free use by the public. All government websites comply with internationally recognised web accessibility guidelines to facilitate access and navigation by people with visual disabilities.

IT Cooperation

Hong Kong has concluded cooperative arrangements (Memoranda of Understanding/MOU) in information and communications technology (ICT) with 11 countries since 1998 Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The MOU with Finland expired in January and it was later renewed for another five years. The Government has organised mutual visits, information exchange activities and cooperation programmes with these partners to promote and support inter-governmental exchanges, business partnerships and investment cooperation in the areas of IT and telecommunications.

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. The final phase of the ancillary residential development is due to be completed by 2008.

Tenants of Cyberport are admitted based on the advice of a committee of local and international experts. By the end of 2005, 49 tenants had signed leases, taking up 54 per cent of the available office space. These include local, Mainland and