Hong Kong Information Technology Federation
“Hong Kong’s voice for the Information, Communications and Technology Industry since 1980”
October 2002
Welcome to the WITSA member profile, where a leading national IT industry organization each month is invited to put the spotlight on recent market developments or other topics of relevance to the high-tech industry in their respective markets. The views portrayed may not necessarily portray those of the Alliance as a whole. This month, the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation (HKITF) provides an overview of the Hong Kong information, communications and technology (ICT) industry.
Hong Kong’s IT Leadership
According to a profile by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong’s information technology (IT) market is one of the most developed in the region. IT spending reached US$2.2 billion in 2000 and was among the highest in Asia on a per capita basis. Hong Kong IT spending is expected to reach US$2.6 billion in 2005. Hong Kong has some of Asia’s biggest and most sophisticated computer installations. For instance, with more than 8 million cards issued, Octopus Cards in Hong Kong is the world’s largest e-payment smart-card system, for transportation and small retail payments. Other areas of application excellence in Hong Kong include banking and finance, e-logistics, trading and manufacturing, Internet and telecommunications, multimedia and content development, etc.
The IT services industry and the economy as a whole benefits from Hong Kong’s excellent telecommunications infrastructure. Hong Kong, for example, is the first city to fully digitize its fixed line telecommunications networks, now providing broadband access to all of its commercial buildings and over 90 per cent of its residential buildings. Hong Kong’s mobile penetration is also among the highest in the world. Recently, Hong Kong ranks Number One in the Mobile/Internet Index of ITU (International Telecommunications Union).
In December 2002, Hong Kong will host ITU TELECOM ASIA 2002, the second time in a row for the special administrative region of China.
In terms of government policy to support the ICT sector, the Hong Kong government has actively promoted is the Digital 21 initiative since 1998 – with a theme of “Connecting the World.” Particular emphasis has been placed on e-government, so as for the public sector to act as an example for the private sector.
The policy bureau in charge of Hong Kong’s policy and regulatory regime for the IT, telecommunications and broadcasting industry is the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau.
Since 1998, Hong Kong has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU’s) on IT with Canada, Australia, UK, Finland, India and Israel. These MoU’s have fostered investment, technology exchanges and sharing of policy and regulatory information between Hong Kong and our partners.
Charles Mok
President, HKITF
CEO, Halo Group Limited
Cindy Cheng
Vice President, HKITF
Director of Sales & Marketing, Octopus Cards Limited
Vice President, HKITF
VP, Strategy & Solutions, Arcotect Limited
Secretary, HKITF
CEO, Arcotect Limited
Treasurer, HKITF
Director & General Manager, ABCM Consulting (China) Limited
Ex-officio Member, HKITF
Managing Director, ABC Software Limited
HKITF Council Members
HKITF signs MOU with Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC)
On September 9, 2002, HKITF President Charles Mok signed an MoU with ITAC President & CEO Dr Gaylen Duncan, to promote IT cooperation between the two economies. Details can be found here.
About HKITF
The Hong Kong Information Technology Federation was founded in 1980 as a non-profit, non-political trade association to provide a forum in which the IT-related business in Hong Kong can work together for the benefit of the industry and to maintain a high level of business practice amongst the members.
Over the years, HKITF has developed into a dynamic and highly respected organization with over 300 members. The Federation is directed by an Executive Council of 15 Councilors elected by the members for a term of a year at the Annual General Meeting.
HKITF promotes local IT business through activities such as exhibitions, seminars, breakfast and luncheon speaker meetings and after-office-hours Networking Hours to exchange business ideas and to expand personal network. The Federation’s IT Networking Hours was the first of its kind in Hong Kong. It has become the focal point for members and senior IT executives both locally and from abroad. Also, in order to promote collaborations between Hong Kong and the China Mainland, HKITF has organized many trade missions to cities in China, especially in the Pearl River Delta in southern China.
HKITF also keeps members abreast of local IT developments and business opportunities through its electronic newsletter, HKITF News. The Federation acts as the bridge for international IT companies looking for local partners and works with trade commissions to host trade promotion events.
HKITF supports and sponsors various IT sectors to develop focus groups. Examples of these are the Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association (HKISPA) established in 1996 and the Open Software Forum (OSF) established in 2000.
In the public sector, HKITF works closely with the government to promote the development of the local IT industry. The Federation represents the industry on the Law Reform Committee, Information and Technology Development Council, the Financial Secretary’s Financial Infrastructure Steering Committee and many other government committees.
Projects of HKITF
Currently, HKITF is engaged in two projects supported by the Hong Kong SAR Government’s SME Development Fund. They are “CMM support Program for Hong Kong Software SMEs” and “SME IT-Friendly IT Solution Directory.” These projects will commence in late 2002. In addition, HKITF has been a supporter of the E-commerce Adoption Campaign of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, for both its phase one (“Try It Online” for B2C) and the upcoming phase two (mainly for B2B).
For further information, please contact:
21/F,
The Center, 99 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong SAR, China
Phone: (852) 2287-8017
Fax: (852) 2287-8038
Email: info@hkitf.org.hk