IS3037 Lecture 3

1
IS3037 Lecture 3

• The Current eGov Situation in Hong Kong
  Technology Strategy
• (www.egov.gov.hk)

2
Agenda

• Do we have a strategy?
• What kinds of technologies are we using?
• Are technology strategy integrated?
• What do the customers think?

3
Do we have a strategy?

• Certainly in fact quite a well developed
  strategy!
• Digital 21 initiative
• More general purpose IT strategy
• ESD infrastructure first introduced
• Premised on
• People who know how to use IT
• A cultural environment that stimulates
  creativity welcomes advances in the use of IT

4
Digital 21

• Also included an attempt to align IT strategy
  with eGov strategy
• Providing seamless electronic services to the
  public business in an efficient and
  customer-centric way
• Bilingual interface (most of the time)
• Secure Electronic Transactions

5
Digital 21 Objectives

• Facilitating the development of e-commerce
  through eGovernment programmes
• Driving up utilization of eGovernment
• Revising the Electronic Transactions Ordinance so
  as to align with international norms
• Promotion of open technological standards and
  their adoption

6
Digital 21 Objectives

• Enhancing the training and skills of the
  workforce through IT in education and IT
  education in tertiary education and vocational
  training
• Restructuring the governments IT Services
  Department with over 80 of its IT projects being
  outsourced (including eGov)
• Bridging the digital divide to enable all sectors
  of the community to benefit from eGovernment and
  IT development

7
But what is actually available?

• A small number of primary websites
• www.info.gov.hk
• Bi-lingual info-guide to government services
• Links to govt departments bureaux
• Mostly dissemination of information, videos,
• A few transactions here and there
• www.jobs.gov.hk
• www.esd.gov.hk www.esdlife.com.hk

8
www.info.gov.hk

• Every department has a webpage
• Some are information only
• Others offer feedback, transactions, payment
  functions
• Driving licence applications, Marriage licence
  registrations, Tax payments (and parking
  tickets!), Reporting smoky vehicles, defective
  traffic lights and potholes

9
www.info.gov.hk

• Some departments are more e-aware than others.
• Some departments have identified more
  e-opportunities than others
• Compare the Transport Department and the Fire
  Services Department

10
How good is the Functionality?

• See what happens when I try to renew my car
  licence.
• Payment restrictions
• What about if I want to apply for a job at
  www.jobs.gov.hk?
• If I see a car or truck producing black smoke,
  how can I report it?
• If I am a witness to a crime, can I report it
  online?

11
ESD(Life)

• Wide variety of eGov-type services
• Operated by Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. Hewlett
  Packard (HK) Ltd.
• eGov has been outsourced to a private company
  since 2000.
• Winner of many prizes, e.g. Stockholm Challenge
  Award in 2001
• A vast range of services

12
ESD a Multifunctional Portal

• Information
• Online shopping (Chinese only)
• Domain registration (.hk)
• Govt publications
• Marriage registration
• Smart ID Card appointment booking
• Traffic information

13
ESD A Variety of Technologies

• HTML
• ASP
• Java Javascript
• Https secured login with E-Cert option
• Online payments Verified by Visa (lt2k)
• Search (Google)
• E-cards

14
ESD More Technologies

• Text version or graphics
• Traditional Chinese or English (not universal)
• Login functions to membership services
• Be careful of the privacy policy!
• Not all browsers work in all situations

15
ESD Functionality

• Far too much to describe here
• You need to go and explore by yourself
• Many online services/applications (transactions)
• Eight channels
• Leisure, Wedding, Health, Personal Growth,
  Travel, Citizenship, Business, Household
• Community channels (many are primarily in
  Chinese)
• C2C Virtual Communities

16
Is all of this eGov?

• Not exactly.
• Many of the services go far beyond what is part
  of conventional eGov.
• The HKSAR Govt has not participated in the
  commercial side, but to the citizen/customer, the
  distinction between esd.gov.hk and esdlife.com.hk
  may be fuzzy.

17
So, what is HWL doing running eGov in HK?!

• It is a very unusual situation.
• In most countries, eGov is run by the gov, not by
  commercial operators.
• HWL have a oligarchical position
• Similar to PCCW, HEC, PNS same family
• Do you see a conflict of interest?
• Is there evidence of collusion, cronyism or
  favouritism?

18
If you were in charge of ESD, what would you do?

• Technical changes
• Policy changes
• Content changes
• Functionality changes
• ?????