Date: 27 September 2000

Hongkong Post Fosters Multilateral Co-operation Among Public Certification Authorities in Asia

The Signing of Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with ID.Safe of Singapore and DIGICERT of Malaysia

Hongkong Post today signed a tripartite Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with two overseas certification authorities, ID.Safe (a joint venture between CISCO Computer Security and Singapore Post) and DIGICERT (a joint venture owned by Pos Malaysia Berhad and MIMOS Berhad), following another MOU signed with ViaCode Limited, a UK certification authority (CA) on 7 September 2000. The MOUs provide the framework of co-operation for exploring the establishment of a reliable and seamless cross-border certification system. It is the world's first international co-operation between reputable public CAs in the world.

Mr. P. C. LUK, the Postmaster General, said, "we are delighted to have signed the MOU with both ID.Safe and DIGICERT. This kind of cross-border co-operation to develop a widely recognised Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) system will enhance our position as a leading Internet hub and help to promote e-commerce in the region."

Mr. LUK added, "Hongkong Post will continue to explore opportunities to enlist more appropriate partners to promote cross-border co-operation for the benefit of digital certificate users around the world."

According to the MOU, the parties will explore the possibility of establishing a common set of certification policies and practices as well as promoting an open and seamless infrastructure so as to ensure interoperability between the certification authorities. In addition, they will explore joint procurement and development of open PKI-based applications to facilitate secure cross-border transactions over the Internet.

Since January 2000, Hongkong Post has been acting as the first and the only public recognised CA in Hong Kong, maintaining a digital certificate repository to allow the public to verify the validity of the digital certificates issued by Hongkong Post. The digital certificate issued by Hongkong Post, officially known as the e-Cert, allows people to authenticate the identity of the digital certificate holders on the Internet. The CA services provide a secure and trusted e-commerce environment.