In the past three decades over which the Hong Kong International Computer Conferences (“HKICC”) were held, the ICT industry has undergone significant transformation. This transformation has brought about drastic improvements in productivity, efficiency and quality of life. Yet there is no sign of any slowdown in this transformation process. Indeed, technological advances have been moving with faster pace than ever before.

In recent years, the expansion of telecommunication infrastructure, proliferation of Internet and social media network, and technological innovation have significantly changed the way we live, work and entertain. We can now readily talk to our friends from overseas over video phone, share our thoughts with strangers miles away, collaborate with colleagues across different geographies, book movie and plane tickets, or even shop for designer labels – all without the need to leave our home. In addition, innovation in medical equipments has facilitated more timely diagnosis and treatment of diseases while the rapid development of environmental technology has helped shape a more sustainable world.

It therefore gives me much pleasure to see that the topic of this year’s HKICC is about how ICT are applied in creating a more caring and connected world. This forum will bring together government officials, industry practitioners and senior executives to exchange ideas on how ICT have changed our lives and how they will continue to make this world a better place to live in.

I wish the HKICC2010 every success.

As a veteran in the Information Technology Sector, I can confirm that Hong Kong International Computer Conference is the longest standing series of Computer/IT related conference in Hong Kong – held annually for 32 years.

I was privileged to attend the first and many other HKICC’s and honored to serve as Chairman and Members of Organising and Programme Committees of quite a few other HKICC’s

HKICC is different from many other conferences, in that it is organised for the ICT professionals by ICT professionals. It is vendor independents and does not address products, it focused on the technology, management, application and impact of ICT. With rapid development and advancement of ICT, it is essential for ICT professionals and businesses executives to understand the emerging technology and trends, and explore their applications, benefits, issues and constraints.

ICT technology on its own has little value; we can deliver much greater value and benefits in applying technology ICT to enhance business processes or create new business models. Delegates to HKICC will be able to learn not only the knowledge, but the insights and experience from the distinguished speakers.

I wish HKICC2010 every success.

I am delighted to contribute my message to commemorate the HKICC 2010.

Continuously without fail since 1978, HKCS has led the way for IT industry by hosting the annual Hong Kong International Computer Conference (HKICC). It has ever since successfully showcased new technologies and innovative IT implementations to drive economic development, providing a forum with thought provoking discussions for IT professionals from the region and around the world.

This year, I am pleased to see the Conference being steered by the celebrative veteran Mr. Jeremy Godfrey, CIO of the Hong Kong Government. With the dedicated organising team under Jeremy’s leadership to address the topical theme of “IT Challenges in a Caring and Digitally Connected Society”, I have no doubt that HKICC 2010 will be another resounding success.

May I wish every delegate will benefit from the strong line up of speakers of the Conference and the wisdom that they will bring along.

I would like to congratulate the Hong Kong Computer Society for hosting the Hong Kong International Computer Conference 2010 that marks a major milestone event in the region.

The Conference is named “IT Challenges in a Caring and Digitally Connected Society” and it will feature key-note presentations, seminars and plenary sessions contributed by regional IT Experts, Administrators and Policy Makers who will share their experiences and visions for nourishing a caring, sustaining, and digitally-enabled community.

Conference guests and participants will have the opportunity to mingle with regional experts in the private and public sectors of our Industry to explore the challenges and opportunities in critical areas such as e-Learning, e-Health, Green ICT, Security, Privacy and Trust, to name but a few.

I am confident that you will find the conference an enlightening, educational and memorable experience that addresses the fundamentals for building and sustaining a caring and digitally-connected community which we would like to see. This in turn will invariably benefit all members of our society.

See you all at the conference!

I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the HKCS and the Conference Organising Committee chaired by Mr. Jeremy Godfrey on the organising of the 33rd HKICC to be held on 28-29 September 2010.

The theme “ IT Challenges in a Caring and Digitally Connected Society “ is timely for preparing the ICT industry to face the two key factors of crucial importance in our modern world. The first is the prevalence of web work-style and web lifestyle in our digitally connected world as a result of bits replacing atoms in the realm of information. The second is the perennial struggles of the human physique, emotion and psyche under the constraints of physical atoms but with the ever unfolding of the emancipation of the human spirit and the conscious and subconscious human mind.

To the extent that some of the applications of digital information are approaching early inflection points there are still the extremes of the haves and the have-nots though the gaps are beginning to narrow. To the developing economies, China included, and the developed business-oriented economies, with Hong Kong being a typical example, there are the current issues of evolution to more sustainable economic, cultural, civic and political infra- and super- structures of society. To both, the call for a caring and level playing society and the associated cultural, economic and spiritual emancipation and evolution cannot be ignored.

A digitally connected world calls for the complementarities enabled by reforms and opening-up, be it business or governmental, towards a brave new world of caring and collaborations, and coop-competitiveness. I believe this conference is an opportune forum of the clash of ideas about how best to cope with the challenges involved.

I wish the HKICC2010 every success.