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The first meeting of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation was held in Guangzhou today (May 17) to strengthen co-operation in informatisation between the two places.
The Expert Group was formed under the aegis of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference. The Eighth Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference held in September 2005, agreed to establish a new task force on co-operation in informatisation.
The Deputy Government Chief Information Officer (Operation), Mr Stephen Mak, and representatives from the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Innovation and Technology Commission, and the Customs and Excise Department, represented the HKSAR Government at today's meeting.
They discussed and exchanged views and work plans with the Director of the Guangdong Information Industry Department of the Central People's Government, Mr Xu Zhibiao, to enhance co-operation in the following nine areas of informatisation:
1. Strengthening co-operation in the software industry between Hong Kong and Guangdong;
2. Promoting the use of RFID in logistics, customs clearance and quarantine;
3. Enhancing the co-operation in radio spectrum management;
4. Strengthening of cross-recognition of professional qualification in informatisation and information technology industry;
5. Strengthening of research and development in interoperability of information technology;
6. Digital entertainment;
7. Open source software;
8. Next generation networks; and
9. Wireless and mobile technology.
During the meeting, the participants also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Co-operation Agreement in Informatisation between the Hong Kong Wireless Development Centre and Guangdong China Mobile. Under the MOU, both parties will actively facilitate business matching and co-operation opportunities for corporations in the two places. The MOU will also help provide marketing, technical and business support for co-operation projects that will enhance informatisation in mobile technology.
Representatives from the Hong Kong IT industry and academia who will take part in some of the co-operation initiatives also joined the delegation and met their Guangdong counterparts in an exchange seminar. These included the Hong Kong Productivity Council, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Computer Society and the Hong Kong Wireless Development Centre. At the margins of the meeting, the delegation visited a number of informatisation establishments including the Tianhe Software Park and the Guangdong Linux Centre.
Ends/Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:19
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