Opportunity knocks: Government Chief Information Officer Alan Wong says local enterprises can apply for the Mainland's Computer Information System Integration Qualification Certification in Hong Kong from January 1.

Local enterprises can apply for the Mainland's Computer Information System Integration Qualification Certification in Hong Kong from January 1.

Certified enterprises will be eligible to provide system integration services in the Mainland.

Speaking at a briefing today, Government Chief Information Officer Alan Wong said his office and the Ministry of Information Industry have come up a set of arrangements specifically for Hong Kong.

One-year transitional period

A one-year transitional period will be introduced to allow local enterprises to obtain the qualification certification. Certain assessment criteria, such as the number of information technology professionals on staff and company assets and capital, will be relaxed.

The Government Chief Information Officer's Office will take up the role of the qualification scheme's management body in Hong Kong.

According to the ministry's regulations, computer information system integration refers to the overall planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer application system and network system projects.

Enterprises offering SI services in the Mainland are required to obtain SI qualification certification, which is divided into four levels of capability representing the types and magnitude of projects that enterprises with the respective qualifications are able to take up, with level one as the highest level.

HK assessment centre formed

The Hong Kong Productivity Council has been recommended to set up an assessment centre in Hong Kong to process applications for levels 3 and 4 of the certification during the transitional period.

Enterprises which have obtained level 3 qualification can independently take up projects of a small and medium scale, and jointly take up projects of a large scale; while those with Level 4 qualification can independently take up projects of a small scale and jointly take up projects of medium scale.