Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Hong Kong Alfred Sit talks about the role of government in cybersecurity
Innovation and technology (I&T) are playing prominent roles in driving economic growth, and in improving people’s quality of life. It is particularly evident in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic that I&T helps fight the epidemic more effectively. The HKSAR Government has rolled out a number of electronic systems to help support the fight against COVID-19 along the way, from supporting compulsory quarantine, contact tracing to testing and vaccination.
For business, a new normal has emerged, many organisations have swiftly adopted digital technologies to continue business operation and some of them even have expanded their businesses. New technologies, such as 5G, IoT, AI and machine learning, are increasingly deployed. Nevertheless, one must not lose sight of the cyber risks that come along. It is all the more important for all of the government to stay vigilant and to continuously improve the defence and response capability of the whole society.
HK attaches great importance to cyber security and is tackling the challenges with a multi-pronged strategy. Let me serve you some of the important aspects of our strategy.
First, support to the community. To enable the building of a secured and reliable cyber environment for the community, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), led by Victor, works closely with the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team (HKCERT), run by the HKPC, to provide appropriate support. Such support activities include the dissemination of updated information on cyber security incidents and security advisories to the business sector and the general public, and organising seminars and competitions to raise public awareness of cyber security.
In addition, the Government provides financial support to the business sector to strengthen their information security level. Our Technology Voucher Programme subsidises local non-listed companies, including small and medium enterprises, to strengthen their businesses operation and increase their competitiveness. Companies can make good use of subsidies to acquire such solutions or services that help strengthen the defence against cyber attacks and improve operational recovery.
Collaboration among stakeholders is also essential and the Government is determined to cultivate a co-operative culture in the society to combat cyber security threats. On this, OGCIO has been spearheading the cross-sector Partnership Programme for Cyber Security Information Sharing since 2018. With HKCERT as a key contributor, the Partnership Programme helps to enhance Hong Kong’s overall defence capability and resilience against cyber attacks.
Currently, about 370 public and private organisations have joined the Programme, covering a wide range of sectors including finance and insurance, public utilities, transport, healthcare, telecommunications, I&T, information security and tertiary education institutions. At present, some 120 banks have also joined the platform.
The second aspect is talent, because human capital is one of the key success factors in enhancing cyber security. The government has been encouraging itslocal tertiary institutions to introduce more information security courses in different disciplines in order to nurture more cyber security talent. In the area of professional training, we work with professional bodies to promote accreditation of IT professionals in the field. With the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, we are happy to see the promising growth in the number of personnel engaging in information security and related duties in Hong Kong, from 4 200 in 2019 to an estimated 5 500 in 2020, representing an over 30 per cent increase.
Apart from nurturing local talent, we also strive to attract talent from around the globe. We have enhanced the Technology Talent Admission Scheme, and expanded its coverage to all companies in Hong Kong conducting R&D activities in designated technology areas, including cyber security. The expanded scope and streamlined procedures benefit more enterprises and expedite the admission of cyber security experts from different parts of the world.
Last but not least, international co-operation. Both OGCIO and HKCERT actively participate in computer emergency incident response organisations, and closely connect with the cyber security organisations in the Mainland and the Asia-Pacific region. It enables the government to acquire cyber security intelligence swiftly and prevent cyber attacks in a more timely manner.
