New Agreement on Internet Domain Name Administration Signed

For more information, please contact:
Melissa Ng / David Hsieh at 212-752-3320
Daniel McAtee at 202-238-6360
Wing Yan Tong at 415-835-9315

March 17, 2010 - The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) signed a new Designation Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC) today with a view to enhancing the administration of Internet domain names in Hong Kong.

The Designation Agreement reconfirms the designation of HKIRC, a non-profit-making corporation, by the Government to manage and administer “.hk” domain names and sets out HKIRC’s duties. In discharging its duties, HKIRC is under an obligation to uphold the rights of any persons or organizations to freedom of speech, of publication, of communication and of religious belief, and to comply with the laws related to privacy.

The MOU states the principles that both the Government and HKIRC agree to observe. As stated in the MOU, HKIRC operates independently of the Government and is subject to independent audit. HKIRC will introduce measures to assure its performance and conduct activities in an open and transparent manner.

The signing of the above documentation is the outcome of a review on Internet domain names administration in Hong Kong in 2007. The review has brought about institutional changes in HKIRC, including simplified membership classes, a restructured Board of Directors with a strong focus on corporate governance, and a new consultative and advisory panel to engage stakeholders to advise the Board and to enhance the transparency of HKIRC’s activities.

“Signing the Designation Agreement and MOU is the final step in the implementation of a new institutional framework for the administration of ‘.hk’ domain names. The framework enhances corporate governance, openness and transparency. It will help make the best use of Internet domain names for the benefit of the Internet community and Hong Kong as a whole,” a spokesman for OGCIO said.

The new Designation Agreement and MOU, which came into effect today and are subject to review in future, supersede the previous documentation signed in 2002 between the Government and HKIRC. A copy of the new documentation is available at:
- Designation Agreement []www.ogcio.gov.hk/eng/infra/download/HKIRC_DA2010.pdf]
- MOU [www.ogcio.gov.hk/eng/infra/download/HKIRC_MOU2010.pdf]