The Hong Kong Computer and Communication Festival (HKCCF) for 2006 opened in Hong Kong Friday, attracting more than 190 leading IT companies worldwide.

During the four-day annual event, a wide array of IT products will be exhibited, including computer software and hardware, HD TV, digital cameras and telecommunication equipment.

Being an ideal market channel, the festival for this year will continue to follow the global IT trend with special focus on digital life, digital home and digital entertainment, according to the organizer.

With the launch of the HDTV broadcasting era, the fair heralds the next generation of the most popular consumer electronic devices used at home, said the organizer.

"We have digital TV service providers, broadcasting online service providers and consumer electronic providers on board the fair to allow visitors to understand the new model of broadcasting for the years to come," said Angela Kong, general manager of the Chamber of Hong Kong Computer Industry.

"This fair is thereby a premier platform for anyone who is interested in this new cutting-edge, to look beyond the market," she added.

HKCCF was first launched in 2004 and has since become one of the largest exhibitions for IT industry in the region.

Last year, the festival attracted more than 280,000 visitors worldwide, and generated over 160 million HK dollars (US$20.5 million) worth of business turnover.

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2006)