Thank You for Supporting Democracy and IT / 感謝支持民主香港‧IT新機會

Dear Voters and Friends in the Information Technology Sub-sector,

I would like to thank you for your participation in the IT sub-sector election on December 10, and your support for me and all other candidates in the election! I was successfully elected with 1,228 votes yesterday. I thank you for each vote that I have received, and I will work even harder for every vote that I did not get today.

Furthermore, on behalf of several other candidates, namely John Chiu, Daniel Lai, Stephen Lau, Sunny Lee, Richard Li and Agnes Mak, we would like to sincerely thank all voters for your support.

Our IT sub-sector achieved an impressive voter turnout rate of over 45%, more than doubling the turnout rates of 21.95% of the 2000 election. Our voters have spoken loud and clear that they want a faster pace for democracy in Hong Kong and a contested Chief Executive election.

I would pledge to continue to work hard for our IT industry, along with our IT20 ticket, all the other candidates in this election, and every single person and organization in our industry. My goal is to work with all of you to apply our collective power to successfully establish IT as the fifth pillar industry in Hong Kong.

Please continue to share your views with me on how we can create a better future for IT and democracy!

Sincerely,

Charles Mok

尊敬的資訊科技界別分組選民和朋友：

感謝您在昨天參與資訊科技界別的選舉委員會選舉，和您給我和所有其他候選人的支持！我成功獲得1,228張選票，除了為我所得的每一票致謝之外，我也警惕自己更努力爭取我得不到的每一票。

此外，我謹代表幾位候選人趙志洋、賴錫璋、劉嘉敏、李惠光、李澤楷和麥鄧碧儀，希望向每位選民誠意致謝。

您的努力已經令今天成為我們IT界值得驕傲的一天。入我們IT界有超過四成五選民出來投票，比2000年高出一倍；我們選民的聲音清楚得很，他們希望看見一個有競爭的特首選舉，和加快香港民主步伐。

我承諾在未來必定繼續與IT20同事及其他參選者合作，盡力為IT界與您一起爭取，把IT產業建立為香港第五經濟支柱！

講繼續把您的意見給我， 讓我們同創一個美好的IT和民主新世界！

莫乃光 敬上

永遠懷念 In remembrance of...

今天有一件事令我非常遺憾，我因為選舉事忙，不能出席一位故人的喪禮，我想，這應該是就這次選舉中最令我不快，也是我最無法補救的一件事。

英姐是我在HKNet從1996至2000年的「阿嬸」，不久前因病去世，年紀不算很大的她，上帝就要帶走她了。

作為員工，英姐是最盡責任的一位，我們這家小公司，用人用到盡，她也毫無怨言，無時無刻不找地方幫助我們這些年青人。每天早上我們每個人桌上清潔的茶杯，每個人心水的冷暖茶水咖啡，她都不會認錯；我們每月發出給用戶的賬單，都是她親手摺好放進信封的，這些沒有人指示她去做，但她看見我們這些「經理」、「專業人士」忙過不了，她一言不語，即使在休息時間也令我們放心地把事情辦好。

我信，英姐根本把我們當作她要照顧的小孩。我最難忘的，是每天中午時份，她會把我們所有人帶了回來的飯盒集中，用唯一的微波爐輪流「叮」熱，泠了點又再「叮」過，準時一點端出來給我們，人人有飯開。

她在我離開HKNet後仍在公司服務，直到因病離開，前後十年，是公司最忠心的一員。做人不必要是大人物、大老板、大議員，才叫做不枉此生，英姐是最好的例子，她比我們公司每一個人更專業，更可靠，更有誠信。

可惜，今晚我要去向她說一聲「謝謝，再見」的時侯，原來追思會開始和終結得比我以為的早，不能來，真的是我感到最遺憾的。英姐，我真的永遠懷念您！

因為選舉工作而這樣，更令我內疚，今天也發生了些選舉相關的事情，令我很不開心，這些事令我不能盡我對英姐最後的致意，差點兒讓我在開車回家路上要哭出來。不過同時我也很憤怒，所以也哭不出來；我想，無論是接受了什麼的工作，我都會學習英姐您把事情做好，把別人的生命改變，變好了。

Something happened today that has greatly saddened me. Because of election commitments, I could not attend the funeral of someone who recently passed away. I have to think that this should be the single most unhappy thing during this election, and the one that I truly cannot remedy.

Sister Ying was the amah of my company HKNet when I started that company, from 1996 to 2000. She left us not long ago due to sickness. She really is not that old, but God has decided to take her with Him.

As an employee, Ying was the most responsible one. We were a small company, and we truly make the most out of everyone. Not only did Ying never complain, there was not a moment that she was not looking for ways to help us, the young ones. Every morning we have our own mug thoroughly cleaned, and filled with the right kind of drinks we like at the right temperature, and she never made a mistake. In fact, most of the monthly bills we sent to our members were hand-folded and put into envelopes by Ying. Nobody ordered her to do such things. But when she saw those of us "managers" or "professionals" being so tied up, she did what she could do to help us, without a word. Everything would be finished on time.

I think Ying had thought of us as children who needed her care. I can never forget that every day at noon, she would gather all the lunchboxes from us, line them up to be heated with the one single microwave machine we had. By one p.m., everyone would have their lunch heated and ready in front of him or her.

She stayed in HKNet after I left in 2000, so she has close to 10 years of service at the company. She is the most loyal employee. One really doesn't need to be a big shot or a politician to be able to say, this life has been worth it. Ying is the best example in person for me, as to what it means by professional, reliable and with integrity.

Unfortunately, although I was to go to the funeral and say my last words of "thank you, goodbye", her memorial service ended much earlier than I thought, so I could go in the end. This is the most sorry thing for me. Sister Ying, I really would remember you in my heart forever.

The fact that I could not come because of the election has made me feel even more like blaming myself. Some of the things that happened today with the election has also greatly saddened me. And because I missed paying my final respects to Sister Ying, I almost felt like crying when I drove home. But I have to say that I was also very angry, so I did not cry. I think to myself, whatever I have committed to do, I will learn from you, Ying, to do it right. You have really changed other peoples' lives and make them better.

成功爭取2008 ASOCIO會議 ASOCIO conference to come here in 2008

今天傍晚參加了資訊及軟件業商會（ISIA）的新聞發佈會，公佈成功申辦2008年的ASOCIO （Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization，亞太電腦行業組織）的周年會議及展覽，我有幸之前協助申辦，現在能衷心分享這份成功爭取的快樂。

其實，今天五月我也曾代表香港資訊科技商會（HKITF），到美國奧斯汀（Austin）申辦2010年全球資訊科技及服務聯盟的會議，可惜結果輸了給荷蘭阿姆斯特丹，不過，總算是吸取了很多有關申辦國際會議的經驗。

但自己的失敗往往可變成別人成功之母，所以當時ISIA會長黃梓惠女士（Satti）叫我幫忙時，我欣然接受，正好把自己申辦的經驗，能與ISIA分享，我當然十分高興。未來兩年的節目安排及其他細節，會是我在大會的一運串預備工作核心。

2008年秋，再一次歡迎全亞州來臨香江！

I attended the press conference organized by ISIA (Information and Software Industry Associatrion) to announce their successful bidding of the rights to host ASOCIO (Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization) in 2008. I was fortunate enough to share the joy of winning.

But in fact I led a group to Austin, Texas, USA for the bidding of the World Congress on IT in 2010. But our bid lost to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Yet there were indeed many good and useful lessons learnt.

It was good to see that the success of the ASOCIO 2008 bid finds itself firmly built over myprevious loss. When the then-ISIA Chair Ms Satti Wong asked me for help, I was able to pinpoint exactly what is needed for the judging. The main task between now and then will fall on the program committee to come up with the detailed plan.

Fall 2008, let Hong Kong welcome guests from all over Asia!

釋放程翔 Release Ching Cheong

收到一位朋友發來的電郵，是《就程翔保外就醫的署呼籲》。有關程翔先生的情況，不用多解釋。關心及願意支持程翔的朋友，請登入www.chingcheong.com參加聯署，最後日期剛好也是十二月十日，與選舉日期一樣。所以，在那一天投票支持民主，再聯署支持程翔，都是極具意義的。

I just received an email from a friend, and it has to do with "a call to release Ching Cheong for medical treatment." I think there is no need to describe or further explain the situation with Mr Ching. If you are willing to show concern and support for Ching Cheong, please visit www.chingcheong.com to join the signatory drive. The last day for this call is also December 10, same day as our election. How meaningful it will be if you can vote for democracy and support Ching Cheong on that same day?

沒有商品及服務稅了 The end of GST

今天財政司司長出來宣佈，政府不再推銷GST（商品及服務稅）， 我對GST的立場是認同香港面對稅基問題，但不同意在未全面檢討香港財政理念前，強行進展GST為唯一方案，在細節上我也反對GST以「一刀切」沒有括免形式，包括施行於電子商貿。

我早前曾在我的博客這樣寫過：「昨我參加了...“擴闊稅基與商品及服務稅研討會”，我發言的重點為認同擴闊稅基的需要，但現時諮詢不能與未來的醫療融資分開進行，對中產變相減完又加；而香港財政儲備 充裕，但理財保守，應利用未來增加的收入配合部份儲備，集中支持發展知識型經濟相關的本土經濟及本地產業，才是長遠解決貧富懸殊的較佳方法，不是單靠福利；最後，我表示不贊成諮詢文件內一刀切地把所有商品及服稅納入稅網，甚至包括教育、醫療這些基本需要，和一些行業性必須及與保持合符國際趨勢的括免，如電子商貿。

「對以上三個意見，可惜司長沒有回應第一點有關醫療融資，對第二點有關知識型經濟，雖然肯定教育的重要性，但卻把我有關財政儲備及理財的意見，誤為指建議金管局採取更進取投資策略代替開徵商品稅，說：“有咁大隻蛤（低風險、高回報投資）隨街跳，就畀車車死好耐啦！”但其實我完全無提過金管局，這也不是我的意思；而對第三點，唐司長只表示什都可以考慮。

「其實，商品及服務稅並非不可，但這次政府推銷的技術水平，真的令人失望。（這是我早前就商品及服務稅發表的意見。）」所以，GST不見了，表面是好事，但深層次的問題實在並未解決，正反映香港政府管治的持續危機。

The Financial Secretary came out today to announce the end of the consultation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). My position on GST is that while I acknowledge the problem Hong Kong faces about a narrow tax base, I do not agree to push GST as the only solution to the problem without a thorough review of the financial governing philosophy of the Hong Kong Government. In terms of details, I am against that there is no exemption to GST, and it was even proposed to be applied to electronic commerce. This I of course am against.

I wrote before in my blog: "Yesterday I attended the seminar on the issues on tax base and GST. I spoke to acknowlege the need for expanding our tax base. But the current consultation cannot be done separately from the upcoming consultation on medical financing, otherwise the middle class will surely feel that they are going to be taxed again and again. Hong Kong has a strong financial reserve system, but our financial management policy on our reserve is very conservative. I believe that if GST is approved, a fixed percentage of the extra revenues should be used to support the development of a knowledge economy, based on the local economy and local industry. This is the better way in the long term ot tackle the widening government between the rich and the poor -- better at least than just relying on welfare. Finally, I indicated my disapproval of the the no-exemption proposal of GST, including no exemptions for basic needs like education and health care, or other industry or applications where GST would be inconsistent with world norms.

"Unfortunately, the Secretary did not respond to my point about medical financing, and on the second point about knowledge economy, he merely stressed the importance of education. He did not respond to my comments about the governing philosophy on financial management. He thought I was talking about more aggressive investment by the Monetary Authority, instead of implementing GST. He said, 'If there is such a big frog with low risk but high gains running around, it would have been hit by a car a long time ago!' But I never mentioned about HKMA, and this is totally not what I meant. On the third point about exemptions, the Secretary only said that the Government would consider anything.

"In fact, GST may not be totally unacceptable, but the sales job by the Government is truly disastrous, and very disappointing." So, now that GST is to be no more, on the surface it is a good thing. But the problems deep inside have not been resolved, and this is indicative of the continuing crisis of governance of the Hong Kong Government.

香港—珠三角信息產業合作與交流中心 Hong Kong-Pearl River Delta Information Industry Cooperation and Exchange Center

今天早上我與十多位香港業界代表去了珠海，參加了「香港—珠三角信息產業合作與交流中心」的「揭牌儀式」，這是珠海南方軟件園，與香港五個資訊科技專業學會及商會，包括香港電腦學會、香港資訊科技商會、資訊及軟件業商會、香港互聯網供應商協會，以及香港無線科技商會，聯同其他企業及學界合作伙伴，共同成立協作及交流平台。

中心的發起宣言指，中心的目的和宗旨，是鼓勵中港行業及專家合作，提供商務資訊、工作資料、組織與應用支援、專家討論、及與科技有關的論壇，中心的職能與服務，包括提供市場、產業、職業相關資訊及情報的搜集知分析，提供熱線服務，並會組織訪問團、主辦研討會夃其他聯誼活動等。

南方軟件園是國家十一個一級的軟件發展基地之一，亦是與香港在地理上最接近的，不少香港與國際企業都已經進駐，在我過往與珠海業界與政府人士交流時已發現，在外包、技術產品共同開發，以及協助中國企業打出去，都存在不少互惠發展空間，但最大的障礙，似乎在於資訊流通的不對稱，我希望中心的成立，能為兩地合作創條件，做些實際有用的事。

希望能在未來中心的活動中，與你在珠海相見。



Today, I went to Zhuhai with a group of IT industry representatives to attend the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong-Pearl River Delta Information Industry Cooperation and Exchange Center. This is the joint effort by the Southern Software Park of Zhuhai, five IT professional and trade organizations including the Hong Kong Computer Society, Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, Information and Software Industry Association, Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association, and Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association, plus other enterprise and academic partners, forming a new collaborative and exchange platform.

According to the founding declaration, the objectives of the center will be to encourage the cooperation of the relevant industries and experts from China and Hong Kong, and through providing commercial information, work information, organizational and application support, expert discussions and other technology-related forums. The services provided by the center will include collecting, analyzing and providing market, industry and occupational infromation and intelligence. The center will also provide hotline services, and organize visit tours, seminars and other exchange programs.

Southern Software Park is classified as one of the eleven first-class software centers of the country, and the one that is closest to Hong Kong. Many Hong Kong and international companies have moved into the software park. In my past discussion with industry counterparts or government officials in Zhuhai, I have found that there are significant room for mutually beneficial development, such as in the areas of outsourcing, co-development of technology products, and supporting Mainland enterprise to get out to the international market. But the biggest obstacle that is faced by many is the imbalance of information flow. I hope the new center can create the right conditions for developmnent for Zhuhai and Hong Kong, so that we can focus on doing things with practical use.

I hope we can meet in future events with the new center in Zhuhai!

資訊科技專業認證 IT Professional Certification

今天電腦學會舉辦了一個有關資訊科技專業認證系統及人力資源名冊可行性研究（ITPCRS）的介紹會，根據官方形容，這計劃包括「資訊科技能力要求的標準化，以為香港發展一套專業認證系統，及研究發展一個可自我持續的全港人力資源名冊，為香港長期資訊科技人力資源計劃貢献。」

我一向堅持，專業與誠信是我們專業的基石，必須盡力維護，而ITPCRS對我們重建這行業為尊重的，十分重要，所以，我很高興看見真的很多同業參加了這個星期六早上的研討會，當中很多有經驗的項目經理、系統設計師、質量保證經理等，可見在行內的需求是存在的。張偉犖教授和單仲偕議員都在會上發言，而單議員更強調令計劃成功，對未來爭取立法確認專業認證是非常重要的。

而我也很高興剛被委任為人力資源名冊研究的委員會主席，我必定盡我所能，為爭取改善及保護我們的專業標準而努力！

Today, Hong Kong Computer Society held an introductory seminar for the IT Professional Certification System and IT Manpower Roster Feasibility Study (ITPCRS). According to the official description, ITPCRS is "a project on standardisation of the IT professional competency requirements towards a professional certification system for Hong Kong, and a feasibility study on a territory-wide self-sustainable IT Manpower Roster for long-term IT human resources planning in Hong Kong."

I have always maintained that professionalism and integrity are important cornerstones of our profession, and they must be upheld. ITPCRS is crucial to help ensure we can restore ourselves to be a more respected profession. I was glad to see that this Saturday mnorning seminar was very well attended by professional project managers, system architects and quality assurance managers, demonstrating a strong interest from the IT community. Prof David Cheung and the Hon Mr Sin Chung-kai, both members of the advisory committee, were among the speakers. Mr Sin in particular stressed the importance for our industry to make this scheme a success, as this will be an important step en route to legislative accreditation for our profession.

I am glad that I was recently appointed to be the Chairman of the committee on IT Roster Feasibility Study, as part of this project. I look forward to doing my best to advance the interest of our industry in this important area of advancing and protecting our professional standards.

數碼21資訊科技策略諮詢委員會會議 Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee meeting

今天是新一屆數碼21資訊科技策略諮詢委員會第一次會議召開的日子。今屆的新會員當中包括了沈運生教授，香港業界對他認識，多數是由於他在科大電腦系任教，曾任系主任及香港政府的科學顧問，但我認識沈教授，卻是差不多二十五年前在普度大學時，沈教授除了在大學任教外，更是普度華人團契的領袖，當年為我施浸的正是沈教授。

說回這個數碼21資訊科技策略諮詢委員會，雖說是港府資訊科技決策的最高諮詢組織，但幾個月才開一次會，真的有用嗎？這問題不容易有肯定的答案，但我認為有參始終也有機會，也能瞭解多些決策者的可為與不可為。

在這次會議中討論較激烈的主題，是政府資訊科技採購的問題。政府採購資訊科技產品及服務，佔可觀的市場份額，但近年出現了很多嚴重的問題，例如很多大型政府資訊科技項目都出現「爛尾」情形；中小企和本土公司一直都不容易拿下政府的單子，即使拿到也常因政府部門項目管理的不善，令成本大增甚至不能完成項目，對這些情況，政府資訊科技總監辦公室（OGCIO）顯得不能有效地指導各政府部門。

就算是早前業界由我所屬的香港資訊科技商會統籌，多家服務供應商共同成功爭政府開放項目知產權，但有些部門仍不完全依隨指引，令單仲偕議員在會議上又要再提出向政府詢問，總之，問題仍未解決。這個問題，我必定會繼續關注跟進。

We had the first meeting of the new term of the Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee today. Among the new members today is Prof Vincent Shen, who is known to most of those in the industry in Hong Kong as a Professor of Computer Science in HKUST, formerly the department head and science advisor to the Hong Kong Government. But the Vincent that I knew from Purdue University 25 years ago was the leader of the Purdue Chinese Christian Fellowship. In fact, I was baptized by Vincent then.

Let's get back to the meeting today. Although the D21SAC is the "highest-level advisory committee" for IT, with only a meeting every three months, how effective is it? This is not easy to answer. But I do believe that participation is the right thing to do, and it helps us understand what policy-makers can or cannot do.

One of the more hotly debated topics this time was again about government IT procurement. Government IT procurement makes up a sizable proportion of Hong Kong's market. But a number of serious problems have been occurring with alarmingly increasing frequency. For instance, many large government IT projects have gone into troubles. Local companies or SMEs find it consistently difficult to get government contracts, and even if they get a job, troubles often still follow when project are mis-managed, leading to cost overruns. It seems that even OGCIO facing these problems are finding it hard to effectively direct all the IT departments in all the government branches.

Even though HKITF has coordinated with many concerned government IT suppliers to successfully get the government to open up the IP rights of delivered government projects, some departments are still found to be not following this new government guideline. Our IT legislator Mr Sin Chung-kai brought this up again in the meeting, and I will also commit to follow up accordingly.

科大「卓賢匯」晚宴 Confluence Dinner at HKUST

今晚在科大參加了「卓賢匯」的晚宴。今年已經是我第二年擔任這師友計劃的導師了，不過原來這個晚宴卻邀請計劃以外的學生參加，而我就被分派到一桌子十多位來自內地的全時間制本科生和交換生。

原來現在香港的大學有這麼多內地學生，尤其科大應有過千名，這些中國學生顯然十分適應香港的生活，部份更有在海外學習的經驗，另一些就對去海外升學很感興趣，在談話間我相信他們都是精英學生，未來前途光明，香港本地學生有機會與他們交流，是很好的事。

這些交換計劃真的愈來愈普遍，例如上星期我就花了半天在香港城市大學，為一個新的資訊管理課程進行審評，那課程的特色，就是包括了到海外或內地作交換生的部份；同學們即使不能留學海外完成整個學位，至少作一段交換也是吸取一些國際經驗的好辦法。

I was in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology tonight for a special dinner of the Confluence program, of which I am now in my second year as a mentor. Many students who are not mentees under the program are invited to this dinner tonight to meet with mentors like us. I was assigned to a table of mainland students, both full-time and exchange.

I did not realize before that there are so many Mainland students now studying in Hong Kong. There are more than a thousand of them in HKUST alone. It is quite obvious to me that these young people from China are adapting very well to life in Hong Kong. Some of them even have significant study experience overseas before, while others have shown strong interests to go abroad for their future advanced studies. It is also a great experience for the local students to be able to interact with them.

These exchange programs are becoming more and more popular and common. In fact, a new academic program in information management, which I spent half a day in the City University of Hong Kong for program validatio, also will have substantial exchange component, either to overseas or the Mainland. Even if students cannot actually finish the whole degree overseas, it would still be a great way to gain valuable international exposure.