From left: Herman Lam, general manager of Microsoft Hong Kong, and Jeremy Godfrey, chief information officer of the Hong Kong government.
HONG KONG, 25 FEBRUARY 2009 – Microsoft Hong Kong has announced help for underprivileged communities in Hong Kong to access and use information and communications technology.
The pilot scheme, called District Cyber Center, involves the government, non-government organisations (NGO) and the private sector in the city and helps the local underprivileged communities integrate into the knowledge economy.
Laptop library
Under the scheme, 14 affiliated centres will be established through partnership with NGOs to serve different underprivileged communities. A Laptop Library with 250 laptop computers for loan to cyber centres and their users will also be set up.
As a strategic partner, Microsoft Hong Kong will provide software licences to all the 500 computers and laptops under the pilot scheme, amounting to an estimated market value of HK$3.8 million (US$490,120).
The scheme was announced in the 2008-09 budget speech by the financial secretary of the Hong Kong government, and was officially launched on 22 February.
Fully supported by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), the District Cyber Center pilot scheme was jointly initiated and managed by the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company, Information Technology Resource Centre of Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) and the Internet Professional Association.
“Microsoft has been our long-term partner in closing the digital divide in Hong Kong,” said Christine Fang, chief executive of the HKCSS. “The Community Technology Learning Centers have brought the benefits of technology to thousands of underprivileged people in Hong Kong.”
400,000 benefited
Microsoft Hong Kong has been driving several digital inclusion projects in the city under its Unlimited Potential programme since 2003, will also lend its expertise by sharing curricula and best practices.
Over the past five years, Microsoft Hong Kong has partnered with HKCSS and 15 NGOs to establish Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLC) in the city. To date, more than 400,000 people have benefited directly or indirectly from a network of 40 centres.
Fang said: “Now, working with the government, we are looking forward to extending the success of these centres and helping even more people to realise their true potential through access to current and relevant technology.”
Under its Unlimited Potential initiative, Microsoft Hong Kong has provided cash and software donations totalling HK$28 million (US$3.61 million) to establish 40 CTLCs, in addition to HK$20 million (US$2.58 million) worth of software donations to help NGOs strengthen their IT capabilities.
