Some 130 local and global exhibitors join in the four-day conference, with focuses on practical and technology-based business IT solutions for entrepreneurs, business users and professionals coming from different sectors, said Tong Kamshing, Managing Director of Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd, the organizer of the Expo.

Tong added that participants would display the latest technology and applications, covering the areas of mobile commerce, e-commerce, enterprise solutions/application software, information security, network solutions and IT training.

He explained at the opening ceremony that "surviving in a fast-changing marketplace and a highly competitive digital era is a major challenge of today's business. As information technology has become a critical factor for success, most companies and organizations are looking for cutting-edge technology to add value to products and services."

Alan Wong, director of information technology services of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, also recognized this event's importance in enabling people concerned to exchange information and explore business opportunities.

Among new technology and latest products displayed at the fairground are the reusable, erasable and reprintable "Magic Rewrite Card," the world's first translation software support PDF, the latest NEC micro portable projectors which are specially designed for busy professionals, the latest dome camera, the newest Treo 270 with telephone, Palm operating system, wireless messaging and web access all in one, iGuard which is a revolutionary web-based smart card and biometric fingerprint authentication access control and time attendance system.

Asian IT Expo also features a series of concurrent activities, including Info Security Day, Forum on IT Solutions for Manufacturers, IT Solutions for the Financial Industry Seminars, Budget IT Solutions for SMEs Forum and Hong Kong Institution of Engineers IT Awareness Seminars.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2002)