Mr. Donald Tsang
Chief Executive
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
Government House, Hong Kong

Dear Mr. Tsang,

Joint letter for a change in name of the proposed Commerce and Economic Development Bureau

We write to urge you re-title the proposed Commerce and Economic Development Bureau as Economy, Commerce and Technology Bureau under your Proposal on the re-organization of Policy Bureaux of the Government Secretariat.

Information and communications technology (ICT) is a driving force to catalyze the electronic transformation of various key economic sectors in the road of Hong Kong to a knowledge-based economy. The Central Peoples Government and the competitors in the region have well identified ICT as a strategic component for economic development. To maintain Hong Kongs advantages and beyond, not only a sustainable and globally competitive IT industry is vital, but also the proper recognitions of ICT by the HKSAR Government.

Under your proposal on the re-organization of the Government Secretariat, expected to be implemented with effect from 1 July 2007, statutory functions of Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau will be transferred to the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau. Portfolio of the present Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology will be merging with the present Secretary for Economic Development and Labour in respect of matters relating to tourism, consumer protection and competition policy.

We may share with the Administrations view on seeing the merits and synergy in such portfolio realignment. But it is unacceptable and inappropriate that the remit of the bureau is re-titled as Commerce and Economic Development Bureau which is a total neglect of the value of ICT in the Governments policy agenda.

To reflect more accurately the fact that ICT policy falls into the jurisdiction of Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and, more importantly, in recognition of the importance of ICT to Hong Kong as a knowledge-base economy, we urge you to rename the proposed Commerce and Economic Development Bureau as Economy, Commerce and Technology Bureau.