Digital Signature Framework to Boost E-CommerceThe Hong Kong government has adopted a three-pronged approach in establishing a digital signature framework to drive e-commerce under the "Digital 21" IT Strategy, a senior official said.Addressing a video conference, Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting Carrie Yau said, to establish this framework, the government had put in place the necessary legislation, established a public certification authority, and taken the lead in using these facilities to help drive greater IT use within the private sector and the community. The Commonwealth of Virginia Information Technology Conference was attended by more than 500 state officials and professionals from the IT industry of Virginia, via video conferencing in Hong Kong Thursday night. Yau told the audience that Hong Kong had over the past couple of years devoted a lot of efforts and resources to build a digital signature infrastructure for the conduct of secure electronic transactions. The Hong Kong government put in force an ordinance on electronic transactions in January this year, which provides the legal framework for the development of a public key infrastructure. The second prong is the establishment of a public certification authority, and the third is for the government to adopt public key infrastructure technology in the delivery of public services. "The framework has certainly contributed significantly towards realizing our vision of becoming a leading digital city and a regional e-commerce hub and represents a major step forward for Hong Kong in the new Information Age," Yau said. |
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