Working Report of

Hon. Samson Tam Wai Ho

(Information Technology)

(November 2008)

Dear IT friends,

The fourth Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has just been kicked off in October. Being the newly elected Legislative Councilor of the IT Constituency, I will do my best in monitoring the Government and the deliberation of the bills. As a bridge between the ICT sector and the Government, I will make the voice of our sector heard in the LegCo Chamber and our views fully reflected to the Government.

In the next four years, I hope that we would cooperate and work together for the industry to create more room for development and further promote Hong Kong’s science and technology development. If there are any comments on any affair of the Legislative Council, social issue or the ICT industry, please feel free to contact me or my office staff.

Samson Tam Wai Ho
Legislative Councilor (Information Technology)

Legislative Councilor Office (commenced operation in October 2008) Address: Room429, West Wing, Central Government Offices, Central, H.K. Tel: 2810 1603 Fax: 2810 1609 Staff: Samuel Ho (Policy Research)   Angel Cheng & Shirley Yau (LegCo Affairs)   Denise Lui & Karen Yeung (Communications & Public Relations)   Panels (Year 2008-2009) To monitor the performance of the Government, the Legislative Council has established 18 panels to deliberate on issues relating to specific policy areas. I have joined 6 panels in this year, namely： 1. Panel on Commerce and Industry Next Meeting：18 Nov 2008 Items for Discussion： Further liberalization under Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and deepening economic and trade co-operation with Guangdong province Update on Cyberport Digital Entertainment Incubation-cum-Training Programme   2. Panel on Constitutional Affairs Next Meeting：17 Nov 2008 Items for Discussion： Draft Code of Practice on Employment under the Race Discrimination Ordinance Establishment of Regional Support Service Centres for Ethnic Minorities   3. Panel on Development Next Meeting：14 Nov 2008 (Joint Meeting with Panel on Home Affairs) Items for Discussion： Monitoring the work of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority   4. Panel on Economic Development Next Meeting：24 Nov 2008 Items for Discussion：Agenda still in preparation   5. Panel on Education Next Meeting：10 Nov 2008 Items for Discussion： Development of the new Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination system and further improvement to the examination processes Baptist University Road campus development, phases 1 and 2, Hong Kong Baptist University Closure of secondary schools as a result of class restructuring under the new senior secondary academic structure   6. Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting Next Meeting：20 Nov 2008 Items for Discussion： Review of the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (Cap. 390) Capital Works Reserve Fund Head 710 Computerization Subhead A007GX - New administrative computer systems Policy Address The Policy Address 2008-2009 has recently been released, I would just rate it a pass. I do worry and feel disappointed, mostly because there are no long-term technology strategies leading Hong Kong to transform into the New Economy. Right after the Policy Address was released, I have arranged a roundtable discussion with the industry professionals and collected their valuable comments. In addition, I was invited to share my point of views in the Forum hosted by the Association of Engineering Professionals on 16 October. Your opinions and suggestions are most welcome and I would consolidate and pass on to the respective department officials. (I have also expressed my views on Government’s lack of long-term technology strategies in an article “親金融疏科技 經濟難求突破” published in Hong Kong Economic Journal on 21 October 2008. To read the full article, please visit: http://www.samsontam.hk) In addition, I have delivered the speech on the Motion of Thanks in the Legislative Council. My speech included three parts: 1. the development of information technology; 2. the creative industries; 3. e-participation. To listen to voice broadcast of the Legislative Council meetings from 29 October to 31 October, please visit the link below: http://drs.legco.gov.hk/public/search/search_c.html     Expert Groups Being elected as a Legislative Councilor representing the IT functional constituency, it is my responsibility to bring the voice and concerns of the ICT sector into the LegCo Chamber. In order to have support and input from the sector regularly, I have set up five Expert Groups on different ICT areas. Here are the details of the five Expert Groups: Name of the Group Major items for discussion Expert Group on Engineering, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Policies 工程、通訊及廣播政策專家小組   Engineering, telecommunications, digital broadcasting, mobile TV, broadcasting ordinances, cross-media ownership, RTHK, community radio, WiFi & WiMax, intelligent buildings, intelligent transportation system, IT project tender system   Expert Group on Education and Professional Development 教育及專業發展專家小組   Technology education at different levels, Qualifications Framework (QF), R & D policies, promoting ICT in the society Expert Group on Internet and Information Security 互聯網及資訊保安專家小組   Internet & new media, data centers, digital copyright, Internet crimes, personal privacy, information security education, e-government, Digital Divide   Expert Group on ICT Industry and Regional Cooperation 科技產業及區域合作專家小組 Lok Ma Chau Loop, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle, ICP licenses in PRC, National treatment as domestic players, ICT productization, Open Standard, technology transfer of R&D to industry, angel investors Expert Group on Youth and Social Affairs 青年及社會事務專家小組   Green IT, inappropriate use of Internet by youngsters, electoral arrangements for 2012, minimum wage legislation, healthcare reform     Group members will meet regularly to share professional knowledge, propose strategies and advise on relevant issues. The term of office for all group members is from 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2009. A review of the functioning of the Expert Groups will then take place.