Gates sees HK, Singapore, Malaysia as software hubs<\/p>\n
HONG KONG (Reuters): Microsoft Corp chairman Bill Gates said
\non Tuesday there was room for Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia
\nall to become Asian software centers, despite their competition
\nto attract high-technology businesses.<\/p>\n
"I am fairly optimistic...there is enough demand here that
\nMalaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong could all be successful in
\n(becoming) great software centers," Gates told a news conference
\nin Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
"This is not a zero sum game where only one wins and everybody
\nelse doesn't do well. We need more software people. There is an
\nincredible shortage and that is part of the reason why we are so
\ncommitted to help with the success of the whole project," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Hit by the Asian financial turmoil, Hong Kong is trying to
\nclimb out from the recession and rebuild its economic base by
\ndeveloping an information technology industry and attracting
\nhigh-tech services firms.<\/p>\n
A centerpiece of the strategy is the HK$13 billion "Cyberport"
\nproject, a proposed high-technology campus of buildings equipped
\nwith high-speed telecommunications access and multimedia
\nfacilities designed to attract information services companies
\nsuch as software developers.<\/p>\n
Some critics have called the initiative too late, saying that
\nSingapore, Taiwan and Malaysia started targeting such industries
\nyears ago.<\/p>\n
But Gates said it was important for Hong Kong to develop the
\nCyberport, and added that Microsoft would participate in the
\nproject and encourage software activities in the territory.<\/p>\n
"It is a signal that there is a great opportunity for
\nentrepreneurial businesses. The software business is going to be
\na very fast growing business with a variety of different
\ncompanies coming into it," he said.<\/p>\n
The Microsoft chairman was in Hong Kong to announce plans to
\ndevelop high-speed broadband online services with Hong Kong
\nTelecommunications Ltd.<\/p>\n
The proposed service, called "Zoom", would allow Hong Kong
\nsubscribers with personal computers or televisions to be able to
\nchoose movies on demand, chat with friends in live video
\nconferences, check the latest news, shop, send and receive e-mail
\nand conduct electronic commercial transactions.<\/p>\n
Hongkong Telecom chief executive Linus Cheung told the news
\nconference that Hong Kong must transform itself to become an
\ninformation society in order to compete on the high-tech front.<\/p>\n
"Hong Kong must transform itself...from being over reliant on
\none or two sectors of the economy to an information society," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Currently, Hongkong Telecom offers subscribers a variety of
\nInternet services that include home banking, home shopping and
\nvideos and music on demand. The company has said it wants to
\nbecome an Asian Internet powerhouse, with more alliances and
\npossibly some acquisitions expected soon.<\/p>\n
Microsoft, meanwhile, is angling for a stronger presence in
\nChina.<\/p>\n
Gates said development of Hong Kong into a hub for electronic
\ncommerce would require the involvement of businesses of all types
\nand sizes to participate and sell their wares on-line.<\/p>\n
"E-commerce really requires getting a critical mass of
\ncompanies to get involved. One of the things we'd really like out
\nof this announcement is to really get more companies here
\nthinking about their e-commerce strategy," he said.<\/p>",
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