Working Report of
Legislative Councilor Samson Tam Wai Ho
(Information Technology)

(Oct 2011)

中文

I. Focus Updates

1. Focus of Hong Kong’s future development : Innovation and Technology

香港未來發展新亮點：創新及科技

The LegCo debated the CE’ Policy Address from 26 to 28 October.  My speech centered on the need for more policies and ways to support and strengthen development of Innovation and Technology.  Our mainland has already established Innovation and Technology as a major direction for the nation’s future sustainable development.  I think Hong Kong should ride on our edge and attract science and research institutes to come so that we could become an external window for technology connecting the mainland.  Following what the CE mentioned about he would drive development of technology and service of cloud computing, I think Hong Kong could, through the CEPA system, collaborate with the 5 cloud computing testing points in the mainland with a view to becoming a 5+1 International cloud service platform.  While the CE in his Policy Address proposes for the very first time, earmarking 2 hectares of land designated for data centre development, this falls way short of my and the industry’s request of 20 hectares.  Last, I could only set our expectation onto the next CE and the government for accepting my proposal of setting up the Innovation and Technology Bureau, which will help Hong Kong expand its economic development through Internet, and open up new opportunities for employment for our next generation.

2. Participation in the Technical Committee 28 on Information Technology of Standardization of Guangdong Province, for promoting collaboration between Guangdong Province and Hong Kong
參與廣東省信息技術標準化技術委員會，推動粵港兩地加強合作

I attended the meeting for the setting up of the Technical Committee on Information Technology of Standardization of Guangdong Province on 28 October held in Guangzhou.  I still remember back in my 2008 election campaign for the LegCo seat, one of my election objectives was to ‘push Government to help the industry in participating in the national standardization of the respective new technology, or making Hong Kong a testing ground for new technology’’.  I consider this the core of collaboration of Guangdong and Hong Kong for the industry, and the standardization will serve as a platform for idea and technology exchange in the two places, towards boosting development and synergy of the industry.

3. Joint effort with the Industry in Promoting development of Data Centre in Hong Kong
聯同業界積極推動本港數據中心發展

To push forward development of data centre in Hong Kong, I join effort with the respective sector of the industry, and met with the Deputy Government Chief Information Officer (Policy and Customer Service), Ms Joey Lam Kam Ping.  We focused our discussion in respect of (1) developing the TKO industrial estate into a financial services data centre, in the light of the setting up of the Data Centre of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in the TKO Industrial Estate, (2) revitalization of old industrial buildings for data centre use, and (3) Government’s strategy and plans to attract big enterprises to set up data centres in Hong Kong.

4. Meeting with Director of Innovation and Technology on Promoting Development of Innovation and Technology
就推動創新及科技發展與創新科技署署長交換意見

We met with Ms Janet WONG Wing Chen, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, to understand Government’s plan for promoting future development of Innovation and Technology. Ms WONG indicated that the Department is examining ways of enhancing the plan for subsidizing the Funding Scheme of the Innovation and Technology Fund. Findings are expected to be available next year.  I also made suggestions to the Director in respect of promoting setting up of small technology business, attracting science and technology institutes from the mainland to Hong Kong, talent development, and creating employment opportunities.

5. Forum on Policy Address – Jointly with the Industry
聯同業界專業團體，舉辦施政報告研討會

After the CE announced his Policy Address, my office, jointly with more than ten ICT professional bodies, organized a discussion forum for collecting views from the industry.  We discussed first issues of concerns from the general public, and considered that the CE now proposes resuming the home ownership scheme and increasing various incentive schemes for the elderly, is a clear indication in response to the community pledge.  Whereas, implementation of these proposals has yet to be realized.  In respect of proposals on innovation and technology, namely, designated lands for data centre development, review of “Research and Development Cash Rebate Scheme”, the industry considers this is a good start; however, it is very disappointing that there is still no long term strategy in promoting innovation and technology in the CE’s last Policy Address.

II. Articles Sharing (Chinese Only)

1. 豁免戲仿大勢所趨
   《星島日報》
   2011年11月24日
   
2. 醫療科研造福社群
   《星島日報》
   2011年11月17日
   
3. 無形資產的威力
   《星島日報》
   2011年11月10日

4. 電訊產業國際化
   《星島日報》
   2011年11月3日

5. 兩個救火的青年
   《星島日報》
   2011年10月27日

6. 爭取政策突破促進區域就業
   《星島日報》
   2011年10月20日

7. 曾特首真的相信六大優勢產業嗎?
   《星島日報》
   2011年10月13日