ENG-2009 — Page 430

358 Communications, the Media and Information Technology

community. A number of priority action areas were initiated in 2009 with the support of the task force, which included a District Cyber Centres pilot scheme, a dedicated portal for the elderly, and a one-year territory-wide Internet education campaign.

District Cyber Centres

The District Cyber Centres pilot scheme was launched in February 2009 to help narrow the digital divide by enabling needy members of the community to access and use ICT by strengthening the provision of computing facilities, Internet connectivity, training and technical support to cyber centres operated by community organisations in various districts. A tripartite collaboration among business, ICT professional and community sectors was established to drive the initiative with support from the Government and commercial sponsorships, both in cash and in kind including professional support, hardware, software, service donation. Currently, there are 33 district cyber centres participating in the pilot scheme. These are geographically well spread in different districts across the territory and support a good mix of different needy groups in the community including the elderly, youth, women, low income families and people with disabilities.

Dedicated Portal for the Elderly

This portal aims to serve as the entry point for the elderly, integrating information around their interests, such as those related to their daily lives, medical and health, housing and care, elder academy, social and recreational activities, as well as silver hair market information. The portal also provides a discussion forum for the elderly to build up social networking, thus enhancing their social inclusiveness, encouraging active and healthy ageing and helping to eliminate the inter-generational digital divide. The Government has sponsored an elderly-related community organisation to take forward the development of the portal, which will be put into service in June 2010.

'Be Netwise' Internet Education Campaign

To enable youngsters to make good use of the Internet to realise their full potential, improve quality of life and promote the development of the information society, the Government has allocated $63 million to sponsor a 'Be Netwise' one- year territory-wide Internet education campaign to promote the safe and healthy use of the Internet among youngsters, their parents and teachers. The campaign was launched in September 2009. Various activities including large-scale promotion events, roving exhibitions and training in districts, school talks, inter-school activities, telephone hotline support, home visit technical assistance and family counselling service are being organised across the territory until the autumn of 2010.

Broadcasting

Hong Kong is a forerunner in the adoption of advanced broadcasting and telecommunications technologies. The Government's broadcasting policy objectives are to widen programme choice and diversity through competition, to facilitate the