Date: 17 Jan 2000

Hongkong Post Unveils Educational Hongkong Post e-Cert Gallery
Bringing Certification Authority (CA) Closer to the General Public

Hongkong Post today unveiled the Hongkong Post e-Cert Gallery situated on the first floor of General Post Office in Central. The Honourable SIN Chung-kai, Legislative Councillor representing the Information Technology constituency, joined the Postmaster General, Mr. P.C. LUK, in officiating the unveiling ceremony. The Hongkong Post e-Cert Gallery is designed to enhance public understanding of electronic transactions security and the Hongkong Post Certification Authority services. The establishment of the Hongkong Post e-Cert Gallery is a prelude to the official launch of the Hongkong Post Certification Authority services on 31 January 2000, which will be a milestone in the development of e-commerce in Hong Kong.

Mr. LUK said, "in two weeks' time, the Hongkong Post Certification Authority will be formally launched. It is the first public certification authority in Hong Kong which will provide a secure and trusted environment for the conduct of electronic transaction."

Hongkong Post Certification Authority will issue digital certificates under the name of "Hongkong Post e-Cert" to businesses and individuals in Hong Kong. Hongkong Post e-Cert will enable safe and secure electronic transactions in the fields of banking, financial, telecommunication, entertainment, education and health, etc. It will also support the Government's Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) Scheme which will allow the public to access public information and services 24 hours a day through the Internet and other electronic means by late 2000.

A series of exhibits, two touch-screen interactive kiosks and an educational PowerPoint presentation shown on a 41" TV screen are available at the Hongkong Post e-Cert Gallery to provide information on the concepts of electronic transactions security, public key infrastructure (PKI) as well as the Hongkong Post e-Cert service.