各位IT界朋友：

「國際IT匯」盛事矚目 期望培育新一代創業家

今年四月份IT界甚為矚目，由政府資訊科技總監辦公室和業界合辦的「2013國際IT匯」在一個月內密集式獻上業界林林總總的盛事。「Startup Weekend」和「Silicon Dragon」兩個活動最令我印象深刻 。參與這兩項活動讓我感到年青人對創業的熱誠，更聽到不少以科技改變社會的創新意念，令人鼓舞。

回想自己近廿年前創業的經驗，與今天香港的創業環境已不可同日而語。當年本港的互聯網方興未艾，提供基本的互聯網服務和網購平台，已經足以滿足市場需要。隨著科技潮流一浪接一浪，創業者既要與傳統巨頭競爭，又要面對後起之秀。市場要求創業理念具顛覆性之餘又要合乎全球用戶需要和社會價值。各項IT創業比賽評審和投資者的取向都反映以上的轉變。

從另一個角度看，雖然我們覺得如今創業者能得到政府和其他組織的各種支援，仍然有頗大的改善空間，其所得的支持已比往昔理想。另外各種雲端儲存和應用興起，大大降低購置軟硬件的成本，有助創業者集中資源做好研發和市場調查。我希望在這風險與機遇並存的大環境下，香港能培育更多如9GAG創辦人一樣敢想敢創、打出世界的年輕人。

各位IT界朋友，歡迎透過電郵與我討論更多業界相關議題或反映其他意見，謝謝！

莫乃光

議會發言
四月十七日：就《2013年撥款條例草案》二讀辯論的發言

晴報專欄—IT天下
四月十一日：警隊財政黑洞
四月十二日：東京AR的啟示
四月十五日：你的夢想是甚麼？
四月十六日：「全攻型」考試商機
四月十七日：無障礙網頁
四月十八日：「即棄」文化
四月十九日：Google Glass：流動天眼？
四月二十二日：閱讀新體驗
四月二十三日：波士頓人肉搜索
四月二十四日：撥款救災必須用得其所

媒體報導
四月十一日：信報 政在生活《莫論高深 ── 莫乃光》
四月十五日：U Magazine 捍衛私隱 凡事小心

我和業界朋友/得獎者出席無障礙網頁嘉許計劃頒獎典禮，而我的網上辦公室亦得到金獎（4月15日攝）
Friends and awardees at the Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme Awards Presentation Ceremony. My e-Office received a Gold Award too. (On April 15)

Dear IT friends,

IT Fest Highlights; Nurturing Young Entrepreneurs

The IT industry took center stage in April as the ‘International IT Fest 2013’, co-organised by the Office of the Government Chief Information and various industry organisations, gathered a series of high-profiled industry events. I was particularly impressed by ‘Startup Weekend’ and ‘Silicon Dragon', two events focused on startups. The enthusiasm and passion that the young people showed towards entrepreneurship, and in particular, innovative ideas in using technology to solve social problems were most uplifting of all.

Compared to my startup experience about twenty years ago, today’s business and entrepreneurial environment have changed a great deal. Back when the internet was still in a nascent stage, startups only focused on providing connectivity and primitive platforms for e-Commerce. As technology trends ebb and flow, the market increasingly expects more disruptive, creative ideas that fulfill the need of global users and meet social values, and such are well reflected in today’s business models of startups and investors sentiments.

Though one may feel that government support for entrepreneurs still has rooms for improvement, the situation is nevertheless considerably better than before. Also, with the rise of cloud storage and applications, businesses can spend less on hardware and software, and use the resources on R&D or market research instead. I believe today’s environment is more favourable to young people in Hong Kong to dream big and go global, like the energetic crew at 9GAG.

I always welcome your insight and comments, please drop me an email if you would like to share with me. Thanks!

Charles Mok