Embarking on new initiatives to cultivate a caring and digitally connected society
HONG KONG, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Focusing on the theme "IT Challenges in a Caring and Digitally Connected Society", the Hong Kong International Computer Conference (HKICC) 2010 was officially opened today. Mrs. Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan, JP, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, together with Mr. Jeremy Godfrey, Government Chief Information Officer and HKICC2010 Organising Committee Chairperson, Ir. Stephen Lau Ka-man, JP, President of the Hong Kong Computer Society and Dr. Cheung Nim-kwan, HKICC2010 Programme Committee Chairperson and CEO of Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) officiated at the opening ceremony.
The international information technology conference calls for joint efforts from the government, ICT practitioners, business enterprises, the academia and the community to sculpture a digitally connected society that is caring and sustaining by bridging the digital gap and eliminate the possible marginalisation of parts of the population, especially the aged and the underprivileged. The two-day conference is being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 28-29 September 2010. About 500 participants are expected to take part in the conference.
"While Hong Kong boasts one of the world's highest levels of computer, mobile phone and internet penetration, there are still a portion of the population who cannot enjoy the benefits brought about by the digital era. Reverberating Director Zhang Yimou's 1999 film entitled 'Not One Less', we don't want to leave anyone out. HKICC2010 hopes to provide a useful platform to allow experts in the information technology industry, distinguished opinion leaders, policy strategists and researchers to put thoughts together to bring forth useful advice, proposals and action to our society," remarked Ir. Stephen Lau Ka-men, JP, President of the Hong Kong Computer Society.
HKICC2010 Organising Committee Chairperson and Government Chief Information Officer Mr. Jeremy Godffrey saw the organising of HKICC2010 an outcome of concerted effort by ICT professionals from the private and public sectors. "The focus of this year's conference is meeting IT challenges which echoes Government's efforts to use ICT to deliver social as well as economic objectives. We see the role of ICT in improving healthcare and education as well as reducing the impact we have on the environment. We particularly focus on creating an inclusive, knowledge-based, society in which every individual has the opportunity and the knowledge to use ICT to realise their full potentials," said Mr Godfrey.
Dr. Cheung Nim-kwan, HKICC2010 Programme Committee Chairperson and CEO of ASTRI gave an introduction of the conference programme at the ceremony and he said, "The theme of HKICC2010 on cultivating a digitally connected and caring society is truly meaningful yet a very broad topic. The programme committee, after careful consideration, has agreed to give priority to areas that concerned most people and are worthy of our immediate attention and proactive action. They include e-Learning, e-Health, Environment, Green ICT and Security, Privacy and Trust. We are honoured to have invited some of the best and most influential experts to give talks and tackle the issues from their professional viewpoint."
Representatives from international conglomerates including IBM, Hewlett Packard, Huawei Technologies, Microsoft, and Oracle will speak in the conference. Other speakers include local elites, high-ranking officials from governmental departments and renowned environmentalists from The Climate Group and The Green ICT Consortium. To name just but a few interesting topics, Mr Albert Cheng Jing-han, GBS, JP, Chairman of Senior Citizen Home Safety Association will present his Asia Pacific ICT Award-winning 'Personal Emergency Link Service' and Dr Rebecca Lee Lok-sze, Founder of China Polar Museum Foundation will be speaking on the much talk about subject "Poles Expedition".
Full details about HKICC2010 and its programme can be found on the official website http://www.hkcs.org.hk/hkicc2010.
About HKICC2010
The HKICC is organised by the Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS) annually to bring together IT professionals and business and government leaders from all over the world to explore opportunities that information technology can offer and to share successes and insight. More than 500 delegates are expected to attend HKICC2010, representing a variety of local and overseas public and private sector organisations.
About Hong Kong Computer Society
The Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS) was established in 1970, in the early days of information technology (IT). The vision that led to its establishment still continues to provide the Hong Kong business sector, the general public and the Hong Kong SAR Government with vital new insights and advice into the ways in which information technology is shaping and changing our lives.
Committed to promoting the highest professional standards, the HKCS is the Hong Kong IT industry's first recognised professional organisation and is also the largest. It draws its members from a diverse array of IT users, corporations and individuals who work together to enhance the industry's capability and profile.
To download pictures about the press conference, please click into: http://ftp.jetum.com/hkicc2010.zip
