Narrow the "digital divide" to fight poverty, Hong Kong urges

from Yahoo News via AFP

HONG KONG (AFP) - Government regulators worldwide must close the "digital divide" that bars poor communities from benefiting from the hi-tech revolution, Hong Kong's financial chief has urged.

Speaking at the opening day of the International Telecom Union's (ITU) three-yearly trade show, Telecom World, financial secretary Henry Tang said information and communication technology were key to lifting communities out of poverty.

"One of the questions is how can we ensure that the digital world is open to all?" he asked delegates to the world's largest telecom expo.

"There are many people throughout this world who may be deprived of the opportunity to access information digitally and process that into knowledge," he said.

"In my view it is squarely governments' responsibilties to reduce this digital divide in a modern and progressive society."

Tang's comments are likely to spark debate in Hong Kong over the government's role in the economy at a time when critics say the China-backed administration is moving the city away from its traditional laissez faire policies.

This year's trade show, the first time it has been held outside of the ITU's Geneva home, will emphasise the role technology can play in alleviating poverty.

At the opening ceremony Sunday, Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus whose Grameen microcredit bank has brought business opportunities to millions of poor women in his native Bangladesh, said private enterprise had the answer.

He announced a tie-in with major telecom firms to bring IT centres and Internet connections to poor villages.

"(Technology) has become a fast track for getting out of poverty," Yunus said.