SCED to lead delegation to APEC meeting in Bangkok
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    The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, will lead the Hong Kong, China delegation to attend the 7th APEC Ministerial Meeting on Telecommunications and Information Industry (TELMIN 7) in Bangkok, Thailand, from tomorrow to Friday (April 23-25).

    ¡°The APEC TELMIN 7 provides a forum for APEC Ministers to gather together to share views and experience, and work towards promoting telecommunications market liberalisation in the Asia-Pacific Region,¡± Mr Ma said.

    The theme of this year¡¯s meeting is ¡°Digital Prosperity: Turning Challenges into Achievements¡±. Major topics selected for discussion are:

- Information and communications technology (ICT) human capacity building for a prosperous future
- Challenges and strategies to promote universal services
- Changing market profiles and flexible regulatory frameworks
- Promoting a safe and trusted ICT environment for digital prosperity
- Enhancing outreach activities on cyber security

    Mr Ma will address a plenary session on Thursday (April 24) to share his views with other ministers on changing market profiles and flexible regulatory frameworks.

    Members of the Hong Kong, China delegation include the Director General of Telecommunications, Mrs Marion Lai, and representatives from the telecommunications and information technology sectors. Mr Ma and Mrs Lai will hold bilateral meetings with several participating APEC economies to discuss matters of mutual interest.

    Industry representatives in the delegation are as follows:

Telecom Operator
- Mr Ricky Wong, Chairman, Hong Kong Broadband Network Ltd, and on behalf of Internet Professional Association (iProA)
- Mr Jason Wong, General Manager, Towngas Telecommunications Fixed Network Ltd

Information Technology Company
- Mr Hubert Ng, Director, E-Mice Group

Professional Institutions
- Mr Jonathan Shea, Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Ltd
- Ir Dr Philip Tsang, Secretary-General, Hong Kong Web Symposium Consortium
- Dr Johnny Ng, Vice-President, The Hong Kong Computer Society
- Dr John Ure, Director of Telecommunications Research Project, The University of Hong Kong and on behalf of the Hong Kong Telecommunications Users Group

Ends/Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:45

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