Outstanding achievers recognised at Hong Kong ICT Awards
********************************************************

    The local information and communications technology (ICT) industry was honoured tonight (November 22) at the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2006 presentation ceremony for its professionalism and technology innovation.

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, officiated at the awards presentation ceremony, during which seven winners received their Grand Awards. Of the seven Grand Award winners, ALTAI Technologies Limited/Applied Science Technology Research Institute Company Limited also won the title of "Hong Kong ICT Awards 2006: Award of the Year".

     The Hong Kong ICT Awards are the first collaborative awards supported by Government to recognise ICT excellence in Hong Kong. They aim to recognise, promote and commend the excellent achievements of the local ICT professionals and organisations, and to establish a unique and internationally recognised branding of Hong Kong's ICT awards.

     "ICT had all along had an important role in shaping our daily lives through providing us with better access to information, knowledge and entertainment," Mr Tang said.

     "It also provides us a growing set of tools and technologies, which have changed the way we do business or deliver public services. Most importantly, swift technological advancements enable us to stay competitive."

     He said that the Government was committed to working closely with various stakeholders to provide the best support to the local ICT sectors and would continue to implement proactive measures to foster a favourable technological and business environment in Hong Kong.

     "The Hong Kong ICT Awards 2006, championed by the Government and co-organised by six leading organisers, is a key event to promote excellence and give due recognition to achievements to a wide range of usages and innovations.

     "And it is most encouraging to see so many local ICT innovative products, applications and services receiving the recognition they so well deserve," Mr Tang said.

     The Hong Kong ICT Awards 2006 have received overwhelming support, with more than 300 entries from all walks of life. All the awards were judged under stringent criteria and intensive competition. The seven award categories mirror Hong Kong's priority ICT areas - digital entertainment, digital inclusion, eBusiness, eGovernment, eLearning, eYouth, and wireless technology. One Grand Award was granted in each category and an Award of the Year was selected from the seven Grand Award winners. The seven winners are:

1) Digital Entertainment Grand Award:
Intelligence Frontier Media Laboratory Limited (Moving Music)

2) Digital Inclusion Grand Award:
Lingnan Dr Chung Wing Kwong Memorial Secondary School (IT Inclusion Community Project)

3) eBusiness Grand Award:
Hongkong International Terminals (Next Generation Terminal Management System)

4) eGovernment Grand Award:
Immigration Department (e-Channel- Automated Passenger Clearance and Automated Vehicle Clearance Systems)

5) eLearning Grand Award:
Gowell Software Limited (GoChinese Online Chinese Learning Platform)

6) eYouth Grand Award:
Leung Chi Yiu, Vicker (Flaber - A Flash-based Web Builder)

7) Wireless Technology Grand Award:
ALTAI Technologies Limited /Applied Science Technology Research Institute Company Limited (A8 WiFi Cellular Base Station)

     A Grand Judging Panel chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, was formed to adjudicate the Award of the Year among the seven Grand Award winners. Other members of the Judging Panel were: Legislative Councillor (Information Technology), Mr Sin Chung-Kai; Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Mr Bernard Chan; the President of Lingnan University, Professor Edward Chen Kwan-Yiu; Chair of Computer Science, the University of Hong Kong, Professor Francis Yuk-Lun Chin; and Vice President, Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Ir Peter Wong.

     Details of the award winners are available at the website of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2006: www.hkictawards.hk.

Ends/Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:00

NNNN