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Following is the speech by the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology), Mr Duncan Pescod, at the signing ceremony of the Suggestions on Framework for the Mutual Recognition of Electronic Signature Certificates in Beijing today (June 5):
Mr Zhou (Baoyuan), Mr Wen (Guohui) and leaders in the field,
I am delighted to have this opportunity to attend the signing ceremony of the Suggestions on the Framework for the Mutual Recognition of Electronic Signature Certificates Issued by Hong Kong and Guangdong (Framework Suggestions). This marks a new milestone in e-commerce co-operation between the two places.
The signing of the Supplement V to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in July 2008 signalled the green light for Guangdong and Hong Kong to collaboratively take forward the pilot run of applications of mutual recognition of electronic signature certificates issued by Guangdong and Hong Kong. Led by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and participated in by the Department of Information Industry of Guangdong Province (GDIID) and the Office of Government Chief Information Officer of the Hong Kong SAR Government, a Tripartite Working Group was formed to work out the suggestions on a framework for the mutual recognition of electronic signature certificates issued by both places. Through the co-ordinated effort of all parties involved, the assignment was completed on schedule in December 2008.
Now that the Framework Suggestions has come into effect, certification authorities and enterprises in Guangdong and Hong Kong will be able to launch research projects on the technology and business applications arising from the mutual recognition of electronic signature certificates, and take forward pilot runs of applications in this field. The Governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will co-ordinate with the authorities and enterprises, and strengthen their co-operation in electronic signature certificates, with a view to facilitating the development of e-commerce in the two places. The Fourth Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation (EGCI) Meeting to be held in Hong Kong this July will serve as a good opportunity for us to further promote the pilot scheme. I want to take this opportunity to give credit to our Guangdong partners for their co-operation with Hong Kong in promoting the development of informatisation and the information industry in the two places through the EGCI.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the MIIT and GDIID as well as my colleagues for all their effort and support given in the course of discussion and consultation on the Framework Suggestions. Of course, I also want to mention the sterling contribution of the participating certification authorities throughout this programme. They have played a most important role in proposing, developing and operating the various pilot projects which produce very useful input and suggestions for the framework document.
I look forward to Guangdong and Hong Kong continuing to work towards the goal of achieving "complementarity with each other's advantages, reciprocity and a win-win situation", and to further enhancing their co-operation in e-commerce under the framework of CEPA.
Thank you.
Ends/Friday, June 5, 2009
Issued at HKT 12:22
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