The Hong Kong government has built a legal framework and implemented various initiatives to establish a secure e-business environment here, Deputy Director of Information Technology Services Stephen Mak Hung-sung said Friday.

Speaking at the "Internet Law in Hong Kong" symposium organized by the Institution of Electrical Engineers Hong Kong, Mak said the rapid development in the use of the Internet for e-business has raised concerns in information security, including fraud, data privacy, viruses, worms and spamming.

Under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance enacted in January 2000, electronic records and digital signatures enjoy the same legal status as their paper-based counterparts, thus enhancing certainty and security for e-business transactions, he said.

On the issue of cyber crime, Mak said the government is taking measures to take forward the recommendations of a report produced by an inter-departmental working group to enhance the legal framework concerning computer crime.

On security measures within the government, the official said there is already a comprehensive government-wide information technology security policy which ensures that sufficient and effective measures are put in place to protect the government's information systems.

Looking ahead, Mak said the government is reviewing certain policies to ensure that Hong Kong has the most up-to-date legislative framework to support e-business development.

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2003)