Reply from Mr Jeremy Godfrey, GCIO
(2010.02.25)


 
"Increased IT Spending" from HKGCIO blog
(2010.02.25)


From: <jgodfrey@ogcio.gov.hk>
Date: 2010/2/25
Subject: Re: OGCIO budget
To: "Charles Mok (gmail)" <charlespmok@gmail.com>



Charles

Thanks, I saw your IT Voice email earlier today and was going to email you
too.

Last year, we had a one-off allocation of $63 million to support a one-year
Internet education campaign (which became the Be NetWise campaign). That
accounts for almost the whole difference. This has been taken out from the
estimates for this year. The cost of the OGCIO part of the Internet learning
initiatives is not yet included in the estimates. Assuming the Internet
learning initiatives are approved by the FC, we will need to revise the
OGCIO estimate upwards again.

You also have missed the substantial increase in the Head 710 budget for
capital projects for administrative computer systems- up from $1,242 million
to $1,446 million. This includes an increase in the block allocation for
small projects, which is up from $570 million to $715 million. New projects
to start in 2010/11 have a total project budget of $923 million. Of course
these are the amounts that have the greatest impact on the industry as we
will continue to outsource most system development. See
http://www.budget.gov.hk/2010/eng/pdf/cwrf-10.pdf for more details.

By the way, you were also slightly incorrect about the Internet learning
support. The cash allowance is not a one-off measure. It is intended to pay
it every year, but of course the level will be adjusted to reflect the cost
of Internet access services provided by the not-for-profit organisation. The
organisation will try to keep its costs down by various means, which could
include a "fair use" policy. But we will not let it compromise the
educational value of the service it offers.

I have written a couple of blog posts on the budget on hkgcio.blogspot.com.

Regards


Jeremy