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Speech by Agnes NARDI, Managing Director of Hutchison Telecom

Good afternoon, Mrs. YAU, Mr. LUK, Mr. MOUSTAFA, friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure and honour to join the launch ceremony of Hongkong Post Mobile e-Cert System and celebrate a key milestone in Hong Kong's mobile commerce development.

Hutchison Telecom shares the same vision with Hongkong Post and Diversinet Group in the establishment of an open platform for individuals and businesses to conduct secure mobile transactions.

Being one of the world's major telecom hubs with heavy uptake in mobile, PDA and online shopping, Hong Kong has a good foundation for the growth of mobile business. As the largest mobile operator in Hong Kong with superb network quality, Hutchison Telecom is fully committed to the development of mobile commerce in Hong Kong. Our efforts in this respect started back in January 1999 when we launched the first mobile banking service in Hong Kong using SIM-Tool-Kit technology. We pioneered a number of secured m-commerce over WAP using the Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS) technology, including the launch of WAP stock trading in January this year and Orange e-shop in February.

The launch of Hongkong Post's Mobile e-Cert System will certainly bring another stimulus to the adoption of mobile business. The system allows mobile users to enjoy highly secure mobile transaction services anytime anywhere with the support of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) that provides not only encryption, authentication and integrity but also non-repudiation as stipulated in the Electronic Transactions Ordinance. Businesses can open up new distribution channels for products and services on a secure m-commerce platform supported by mobile digital certificates. This new initiative brings benefits to end users, mobile network operators, mobile equipment suppliers, service providers, as well as a broad spectrum of industries.

With Hutchison Telecom's capability of providing the territory's currently fastest 2.5G mobile data services at transmission speeds of up to 64kbps, we have a distinct edge in providing very soon more cutting-edge mobile commerce services, riding on Hongkong Post's mobile e-Cert System initially on PDA and progressively on other mobile devices.

Going forward, Hutchison Telecom is fully committed to promoting secure mobile commerce transactions in Hong Kong with more advanced technologies including 3G. By applying our knowledge and expertise in the exploitation of cutting-edge technology, sharing the same vision outlined in our Government's "Digital 21" IT Strategy, we will continue to extend our portfolio of mobile commerce applications, with the determination to foster a world-class mobile business environment in Hong Kong.

Thank you.