Consultation on SOA-QPS

On 30 November 2007, the OGCIO has released a consultation paper on the Standing Offer Agreement for Quality Professional Services (SOA-QPS).

The SOA-QPS, as the replacement of ITPSA, will expire in June 2009. The OGCIO now collect views on current arrangement before developing the next arrangement. This consultation will become a foundation for future Government’s procurement arrangement.

The consultation paper has raised 9 particular issues to invite views from respondents, of which several issues the IT industry has long focused on:

• Review on current selection criteria for selecting SOA contractors: 70% to quality aspects and 30% to price ranking; review on current Standard Marking Scheme for issuing work assignments: 30-40% to quality assessment and 60-70% to price
• Determining contractor’s liability: timing and types of liability such as third party loss, indirect and consequential damages
• Payment arrangements such as staged payment, payment upon completion of projects
• Combining and sub-dividing service categories for contractors with different capacities
• Sub-contracting of work assignments by principal contractors
• Preparation time for proposal submission

Other issues include:

• Participation by suppliers
• Length of contracts
• Categorisation of human resources

The consultation will be ended on 29 December 2007, I urge you to read through the consultation paper to have a further understanding. If you have any comments, you can send to soaqps_review@ogcio.gov.hk.

Phase Two Implementation of the UEM Ordinance

Phase Two of the UEM Ordinance is to commence on 22 December 2007. Senders of commercial electronic messages are required to provide unsubscribe facility in messages and are prohibited from sending electronic messages to numbers on the fax, short message and pre-recorded message Do-Not-Call Registers (DNCs).

OFTA has issued a code of practice (CoP) on 26 November 2007 as a practical guide to facilitate senders of commercial electronic messages to comply with the Ordinance and the Regulation.

Following are the commencement dates of pre-registration for the three DNCs:

Senders of electronic messages can apply for subscription to download the most updated DNCs now. Citizens who wish not to receive electronic marketing messages anymore can also register your numbers on the three DNCs according to different pre-registration dates. For further information on DNCs, please click here.

If you have any comments on the consultation on SOA-QPS or the UEM Ordinance, please do share you view by dropping me a few lines at cksin@sinchungkai.org.hk.

CK Sin

Panels

• Provision of radio frequency spectrum for the introduction of broadband wireless access
• Public consultation on the introduction of new class licences
• Survey results on broadcasting services and complaint handling mechanism of Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority

Panel on Commerce and Industry
Next meeting: 18 December 2007 [Agenda]

• Promotion of inward investment
• Small and medium enterprise funding schemes
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's participation in the World Exposition 2010 Shanghai

Motions

12 December 2007

• Legislating for the provision of baby-sitting rooms
• Gender equality

19 December 2007

• Green procurement policy
• Concern about the rail services after the rail merger

Council questions

• Control of cross-boundary vehicles using mainland fuel (28 November 2007)
• Sector-specific e-business promotion programmes (28 November 2007)
• Continuing Education Fund (5 December 2007)

News

Provision of BWA services in Hong Kong

OFTA has announced its decision to release spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band and the 2.5 GHz band by auction in the fourth quarter of 2008. For details, please click here.

Activities

Joint ICT X’ Mas Party 2007

Jointly organized by HKITF, CAHK, WTIA, ISO-HK, HKISPA and HKAIM, a party to celebrate the joyous Christmas, with Govt CIO Mr. Howard Dickson as the Guest of Honour

Technological Achievement Award 10th Anniversary - Technology Development Forum

Organized by HKSTP, an occasion where government officials, academic elites and industry leaders share their vision of future development of technology in Hong Kong

As an elected legislator, I always love to know your views. If you have anything would like to share with me, you can either email me or make an appointment for an office visit or home visit. Please leave your name, contact number, and discussion topic via email, and my office will follow up your request with phone calls accordingly.