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Best Business (Application) Gold Award
 
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited
www.hkex.com.hk
(As also Best Business Grand Award)
Electronic Disclosure System

 Developed by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx), the Electronic Disclosure System (EDS) is used for the electronic submission and dissemination of listed issuer news in the Hong Kong securities market.

EDS allows investors to access vital information via the Internet anytime from any location. It applies modern web technology to transform a paper-based model to a fully electronic and paperless model.

Its straight-through process for submitting and disseminating issuer documents enables faster disclosure by listed issuers on the HKEx website and allows local and overseas investors to access issuer information in a timely manner. In addition, the system provides a digital feed that transmits full text of all issuer disclosures to information vendors. The system also offers free issuer news alerts to over 37,000 registered subscribers, including retail investors.

The system's high availability and resilience is ensured by its multiple web servers and the server load balancing infrastructure, as well as the extreme robustness of the HKEx website.

EDS helps increase transparency for investors and also helps reduce regulatory costs for issuers. Overall, the system strengthens the competitiveness of the Hong Kong securities market and helps promote Hong Kong as an advanced digital economy.
 
Comments from Judging Panel
Price sensitive news can be input outside the traditional collection hours set by newspapers and automatically distributed within 60 seconds. This works to eliminate the needless suspensions of trading that might otherwise arise solely because of press deadlines. Immediate access by everyone in the market to the same first hand information has further strengthened Hong Kong's enviable reputation as a regional financial hub offering fairness and transparency.


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Best Business (Application) Gold Award
 
Immigration Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR
www.immd.gov.hk
Electronic Passport System (e-PASS)

 The Electronic Passport System (e-Pass) introduced in February 2007 by the Immigration Department supports and controls the issue of the Hong Kong SAR passport, including state of the art printing and security technologies. The system places Hong Kong in the front rank of Asian jurisdictions issuing passports that comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

More than 130 jurisdictions have granted visa free access or visa on arrival to the holders of Hong Kong SAR passports. Now, the Electronic Passport System (e-Pass) enables many innovations in an ICAO compliant passport, particularly an embedded contactless chip which holds the holder’s digitized facial image and personal particulars. The use of laser engraving technology enables the holder’s facial image and personal information to be engraved on the passport’s biodata page, which is made of durable polycarbonate. Altogether, the document contains more than 40 sophisticated anti-forgery features.

The diverse functionality and the effectiveness of e-Pass have enhanced productivity and accuracy, for example, reducing by five working days the time required to issue a passport of the very highest quality. The system supports applications through multiple channels as well as varied means of collection, including an innovative self service kiosk. The cost savings effected by e-Pass have brought added security and convenience to the public without the need for an increase in application fee.
 
Comments from Judging Panel
With such a passport, Hong Kong can, quite literally, show the world its leading role in developing and deploying advanced IT systems that make for a better and more secure community.