Wi-Fi now at 350 government locations

The GovWiFi program has been rolled out in some 350 government premises as scheduled, providing about 1,500 Wi-Fi hotspots. 

Speaking at the June 27 opening ceremony of the "Ubiquitous City - Hong Kong" (U-City) Fun Fair, the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology) Duncan Pescod said building Hong Kong into a wireless city is one of the key initiatives under the Digital 21 Strategy.

“We launched the GovWiFi program to provide the public with convenient and free access to wireless Internet facilities at government premises,” said Mr. Pescod. “These are not just passive access points. We are introducing services that can make use of the new Wi-Fi infrastructure to serve the public better by providing easy access to site-specific public information and services when connecting to GovWiFi at government premises.” 

The information available includes job vacancies, application procedures, various reports and forms at job centers, and the latest weather information in the vicinity of GovWiFi premises.

Usage statistics show encouraging growth in the public’s adoption of the GovWiFi service. Compared to the starting point in July 2008 when 130 premises were rolled out, the monthly usage in the number of GovWiFi service connections has increased from about 59,000 to approximately 210,000 in May 2009, representing an average monthly growth of about 13%. In response to user demand, the government will provide Wi-Fi facilities in 30 more locations, including venues of the Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games, major district parks, more community halls and centers, and a few more government offices.

More information on GovWiFi can be found at www.gov.hk/wifi.

Appointments made to Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

On June 26, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced that the Chief Executive had re-appointed Nicholas Brooke Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) for two years, effective July 1, 2009.

“Mr. Brooke has made valuable contributions to steering the development of the corporation, which has now built up a solid foundation,” said Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau. “We are confident that under Mr. Brooke's leadership, the corporation will continue to help Hong Kong stride forward in innovation and technology development.”

The government also announced the appointments of Liu Sing-cheong, Agnes Mak Tang Pik-yee and Professor Kenneth Young as HKSTPC board members for a period of two years, effective July 1, 2009.

Also the following four current members of the board have been re-appointed for two years, beginning July 1: Lee Shing-see, Joseph Pang Yuk-wing, Alice Chin Hang-yin and Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu.

The HKSTPC, which began operations in 2001, manages the science park, three industrial estates and an InnoCentre and supports innovation and technology development in Hong Kong. It provides a comprehensive range of services to cater to the needs of industry at various stages, ranging from nurturing technology start-ups through an incubation program, providing premises and services in the science park for applied research and development activities, and creating and sustaining a design cluster at the InnoCentre, to providing developed land in the industrial estates for production.

The term of two incumbent members of the board, Raymond Chan and Professor Lawrence Lau expired on June 30.

Advertising agency wins international award

Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau, congratulated Hong Kong's advertising agency McCann Worldgroup on its ‘’Paper Battlefield’’ poster series, which won the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

Mrs. Lau said this is the first time Hong Kong has won this international design top prize and that it “demonstrates that the design capabilities of our advertizing talent are on a par with the international standard.” She stressed that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government would strive to foster the development of the advertising industry to promote Hong Kong as a creative capital in the region. The government is discussing with the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of Hong Kong co-organizing international advertising award events. It will also financially support the sector to participate in global contests.

Since its inception in the 1950s, the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival has been a major event for the advertising industry. The Lions awards are divided into 11 categories in accordance with different media. This year’s design category had received 1,139 entries from more than 60 countries and regions. For more details about the ‘’Paper Batterfield’’ poster series and the award, visit (www.mccannhk.com/bbl) and (http://work.canneslions.com/design)

Team wins 18 medals in Asia Youth Games

Hong Kong Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing congratulated Hong Kong athletes for their outstanding achievements at the recent Asian Youth Games (AYG) held in Singapore June 29- July 7.

The Hong Kong delegation won a total of 18 medals, including five gold, eight silver and five bronze.

This year’s Hong Kong/China delegation comprised 71 members, including 46 athletes, who took part in six of the nine official sports: aquatics, athletics, bowling, football, sailing and table tennis.

A total of 45 countries and regions with some 1,400 athletes participated in the event. More than 40 countries/regions took part in this inaugural AYG.

Students triumph in physics competition

Five Hong Kong students won a record haul of one gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the 40th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in Mexico. This is the best results achieved since Hong Kong students began participating in the Olympiad in 2004.

Gold medalist Yu Lik-hang of S.K.H Lam Woo Memorial Secondary School had previously been awarded first prize in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Physics Olympiad in February and achieved the highest score among Hong Kong team members in that competition.

The excellent results this year marked the success of cooperation among the Education Bureau, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education in providing training and support for gifted students.

The IPhO this year was held from July 11-19 in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, with more than 400 contestants from about 96 participating. The event  promotes education in physics, strengthens interaction and cooperation among experts in physics worldwide, and trains and inspires teenagers with enormous potential in physics.

Students win gold medal in math competition

Six Hong Kong students won one gold, two silver and two bronze medals in the 50th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held in Bremen, Germany. It was the best result for Hong Kong teams in three years. The gold medalist is Ching Tak-wing, a student of Queen's College. He had earlier won a silver medal in the China Mathematical Olympiad 2009 in January.

The results were a testament to the success of cooperation among the Education Bureau, the IMO (Hong Kong) Committee and the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) in nurturing mathematically gifted students.

The students were selected to represent Hong Kong following their outstanding performance in the IMO Preliminary Selection Contest - Hong Kong in 2008 and the Support Measures for the Exceptionally Gifted Students Scheme.

The main objectives of the competition are to promote mathematics education, foster friendly international relationships with fellow mathematicians all over the world, and nurture and stimulate the development of mathematically gifted young people.