HK to Launch Electronic Service Delivery in October

The Hong Kong government is set to take the lead and implement the Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) scheme to provide "one-stop shop" public services to the community online in an innovative manner.

Preparation work for the scheme has now reached the final stage.

System testing is now being conducted and services are expected to be launched in October this year.

This was stated by Alan Siu, deputy secretary for information technology and broadcasting when he officiated at the ceremony jointly organized with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and the ESD operator to kick-off a campaign to promote the ESD Saturday.

Siu said that through electronic and Internet technology, the ESD would completely transform the way public services were to be delivered and enable them to be provided with high quality and efficiency.

"The public do not have to go to the government services counter personally as they will be able to obtain various public services through the Internet and other electronic means in a seamless manner, 24 hours a day and seven days a week," he said, adding that under a citizen-centric approach, the design of the ESD interface would be easy and simple to facilitate public use.

The government has installed public computer facilities at convenient public places, such as district offices, community centers, public libraries and post offices.

As regards security, the ESD will adopt a comprehensive network security and monitoring system and all personal data will be encrypted in the process of transmission. All ESD transactions will be secure.

In the long term, the government plans to extend the ESD to all public services which are amenable to electronic mode of delivery.

"More importantly, private sector operators can use the ESD system to provide business services, thereby facilitating and promoting the development of e-commerce and making Hong Kong a leading digital city in the 21st century," Siu stressed.



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