FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(15 August 2008‧HongKong)

The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, WTISD, previous known as World Telecommunication Day, established since 1969, is set every year on May 17th worldwide to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 17 May 1865.

Taking the opportunity for celebrating the WISD in Hong Kong, Communications Association of Hong Kong (CAHK) together with the Honorable Sin Chung-kai, Legislative Councilor (IT) co-organized “World Information Society Day – Hong Kong (WISD-HK)” in 2007 with an aim to demonstrate to young people, teachers and parents that ICT - the driving force giving impetus to economic prosperity of Hong Kong - is an exciting, challenging and rewarding career for our younger generation.

This year, again with the full support from the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA), CAHK and Hon. Sin Chung-kai continue their effort on enlightening the young people’s awareness on the importance of ICT to the economic growth and social development of Hong Kong.

“Through the WISD-HK project last year, we got in touch with thousands of youngsters and the media for arousing their interest in ICT. Positive and encouraging feedbacks were received, both from the ICT industry and the general public. To maximize the good effects and maintain the momentum brought by WISD-HK last year, both CAHK and Hon Sin agree to make this kind of meaningful public education program sustainable. We therefore work together again and organize WTISD-HK 2008 this year” said Mr. Hubert CHAN, chairman of CAHK.

“An IT-savvy population is one of the key pillars to sustain Hong Kong’s transformation towards an information society. It is necessary to deliver positive messages to the young and the public for raising their awareness on ICT. The better our young generation be equipped with ICT knowledge, the closer we are to achieving our goal. I believe the ICT industry share our thought because the OFTA and a number of ICT enterprises have agreed to continue their supports and sponsorships this year. We must thank for their generous support.” said Hon. Sin Chung-kai, the legislator representing the IT sector.

WTISD-HK 2008 consists of series of cultivating activities from March to May 2008 for the youth community and the general public to participate in fun and interactive ways. New initiatives are also planned for project enrichment. Highlights are as follows:

- Pan-PRD ICT Innovation Competition from March to May 2008

- “CAHK Trophy” Inter-universities Quiz Competition on March 14th, 2008

- AGPS Geo-caching Hunting Competition on May 17th, 2008

- WTISD-HK 2008 Launch and Prize Presentation Ceremony on May 17th, 2008

- Communications Tour with Career Talk on May 24th, 2008

Each of the above event shares a common goal, experience the infinity power and rapid development of ICT industry locally and internationally. Pan-PRD ICT Innovation Competition is a new initiative this year. It aims to arouse students’ interest in, and to demonstrate the opportunities brought by Internet base and mobile applications development. To encourage the students to exchange and share the ICT experience as well as to establish friendship with Mainland students, this Competition is open for all students in tertiary education institutions in Pan-PRD region. “CAHK Trophy” Inter-universities Quiz Competition helps to raise youth community’s awareness and digital intelligence of ICT industry. Winners of the “CAHK Trophy” will be offered a summer internship at a leading ICT company.

AGPS Geo-caching Hunting Competition is also a new part to the WTISD-HK project. It enriches the knowledge of location-based and wireless technologies to local students to tackle daily challenges. Communications Tour with Career Talk allows up to 400 participants to visit prohibited area such as data center and security center of 10 leading ICT pioneers such as Asia Television Ltd (ATV), Cable Television Limited, China Aerospace Telecommunications Limited, China Mobile Peoples Telephone Co Ltd, Cyberport, Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Ltd, PCCW, REACH, SmarTone-Vodafone etc. In addition, participants will have a golden opportunity to meet with top management of leading ICT companies to have career sharing sessions on their future career development in the ICT fields.

Both AGPS Geo-caching Hunting Competition and Communications Tour are open for Form 4-6 and tertiary students. Interested parties shall contact their college teacher or academic department for registration. The WTISD Launch and Prize Presentation Ceremony commemorates the past and future of ICT industry development around the world. Industry professionals will be invited to share the joy and happiness.

The digital revolution has opened new opportunities to attain higher levels of development. These new technologies are powerful instruments in increasing productivity, generating economic growth and employment, and improving the living standards for all. This is essential for more young generation to join the ICT industry to carry on further developments.

For further information of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day in Hong Kong 2008, please visit: http://www.cahk.hk/WTISD/home.html.

About the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day in Hong Kong Organizers

Communications Association of Hong Kong (CAHK) (formerly known as Internet & Telecom Association of Hong Kong) is a non-profit making organization incorporated on 27 May 1983, following the announcement of deregulation of the telecommunications products and services. CAHK is the association for Hong Kong's communications industries, with responsibilities across broadcasting, wire line and wireless communications, and other relevant business sectors in the domain of information communications technology (ICT).

Since 1985, CAHK has been a member of four Advisory Committees of the Office of the Telecommunication Authority, Hong Kong (OFTA), which plays a role in advising the Telecommunications Authority in the formulation of policy for the development of telecommunications on service most beneficial to the public of Hong Kong.

CAHK facilitates the open exchange of ideas and sharing of experience among all related industry partners, and is dedicated to develop and comply with industry code of practice, technical and operational standards to maintain high standard of business and professional ethics and to discourage and suppress mal-practices that may be harmful to the communications industry as well as to the business, community and public at large. It provides legitimate and competent representations to various HKSAR Government Departments or other industry organizations for the communications industry; enhances the technical and general knowledge of persons engaged in and related to the industry, produces a wide variety of useful information, research and statistic in connection with the communications industry, and to promote the industry image and members of the Association to local and overseas industry. For more information, please visit www.cahk.hk.

The Honorable Sin Chung-kai, SBS, JP has been closely associated with the information technology development of Hong Kong. He has served as a Member of Legislative Council since 1995 and he has represented the Information Technology Functional Constituency since 1998. He is well-known as a strong advocate for transforming Hong Kong into a leading digital city that enjoys human rights, rule of law, fair competition, free flow of information, democracy, and economic prosperity. In recognition of Sin Chung-kai’s distinguished public and community service, particularly for his contribution to the development of information technology and promotion of wider IT adoption in the business sector and the community, the Chief Executive has accords the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) to Sin Chung-kai in July 2007.

Currently, Sin Chung-kai is the Deputy Chairman of Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting of the Legislative Council. He served as the Chairman of this Panel from October 1998 to September 2006. Outside of the legislature, he is a Honorary Court Member of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; a Director of Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited; a member of the Housing Authority, the HKSAR Government’s Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee, the ICAC Operations Review Committee and the Witness Protection Review Board Panel. He also serves on various other advisory boards both in the public and private sectors.

Distributed by the Office of Mr. Sin Chung Kai, Legislative Councilor (IT) and Communications Association of Hong Kong (CAHK). For enquiries, please contact

Office of Mr. Sin Chung Kai, Legislative Councilor (IT)

Name: Miss Wong Hiu-chong

Telephone: (852) 2509 3211

Email: whc@sinchungkai.org.hk

Communications Association of Hong Kong (CAHK)

Name: Ms Kathlin Liao

Telephone: (852) 2504 2732

Email: kathlinliao@cahk.hk

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