Data Services Development: Industrial Estates for Data Centres

On 16 June, following our meeting with ITC in February, I have arranged to meet with Mr. Nicholas Brooke, Chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) and industry leaders to further discuss the issus faced by the industry in establishing data centres.

During the meeting, Mr. Brooke informed us that they have since approached Mr. Frederick Ma, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, to channel our views regarding the difficulties in data centre operation. They agreed with us that the leasing terms for data centres should be relaxed, and further pledged to allocate three buildings in Tai Po and Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estates for data centre operations.

This issue was raised in February, for which I have arranged a meeting with Mr. Gordon Leung (Deputy Commissioner for Innovation and Technology), Dr. M W Chan (Vice President of HKSTPC) and industry representatives to reflect our views on the obstacles in developing data services in Hong Kong.

Data centre operations have special requirements in terms of space, ceiling height, uninterrupted power supply (UPS), chillers and oil storage requirements etc. Further, the mode of business requires flexible leasing terms and long leasing period.

I am pleased that industry opinions are heard by the government. Hong Kong has outstanding infrastructure, and a good potential to develop data centre business, I look forward to the implementation of these favourable policies for ICT developments.

"Hong Kong - an Unsafe Place to Surf?" Public Forum

In response to the recent McAfee report on dangerous domain, the Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association (HKISPA), the Internet Society Hong Kong Chapter (ISOC-HK), the Professional Information Security Association (PISA) and my office co-organized a public forum on 14 June.

Updated figures and evidences were shown at the forum to discuss the safety of web surfuring in Hong Kong domains. Panelists and professionals from ICT industry expressed their points of view and conducted a fruitful discussion.

Panel discussion video can be viewed here:

Photos and presentation materials can be found here: photo, slide 1, slide 2.

If you have any comments on these issues, please do share your view by dropping me a few lines at cksin@sinchungkai.org.hk.

CK Sin

Motions

25 June 2008

• Seeking papers, books, records and documents regarding the salary and fringe benefits of Under Secretaries and Political Assistants.
• Report of the Subcommittee on West Kowloon Cultural District Development.
• Enhancing co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao.

2 July 2008

• Report of the Subcommittee to Study Issues Relating to the Provision of Boarding Places, Senior Secondary Education and Employment Opportunities for Children with Special Educational Needs.

Council questions

• Using IT to further enhance efficiency and convenience of public services. (11 June 2008)
• Use of personal data kept by specified bodies in elections. (18 June 2008)

News

"e-Government and Better Governance in Hong Kong" Report

On 18 June, the Professional Commons published the research report on e-Government in Hong Kong.

The report carefully examined the current status in Hong Kong's e-government development, and compared with overseas experience.

The vision and recommendations to widen ICT applications and improving citizen participation should gain our full support.

The full report can be downloaded here.

Activities

Green IT - An Inconvenient Truth also?

Information technology (IT) is an effective way to help us go green and save our planet. However, IT is fuelled by carbon - consuming electricity in itself, and consuming even more electricity in peripheral support.  While we go green with IT, we have to ensure that IT itself is going green.

iT Matters 2008 Forum -
ICT Strategically Matters for HK - the Way Forward

Information and communications technology (ICT), is vital in helping Hong ong remain competitive in a global economy by increasing nkowledge, promoting innovation and nurturing talents. This event gathers a panel of prominent leaders in business, ICT industry and academia to share their visions for the future of the ICt industry 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.