Launching the Government Wi-Fi Programme on Thursday, Mr Ma observed that people's lives are highly involved with information and communications technology (ICT), and wireless and mobile services are applied in Hong Kong's pillar industries.

Noting that mobile financial services recorded nearly 60% year-on-year growth last year, he expressed the hope that the ICT industry will develop more mobile financial and banking services.

"To consolidate Hong Kong's position as a leader in tourism and logistics, industry players are encouraged to make use of wireless and mobile technologies to provide tourists and logistics management with more useful electronic information," Ma explained, going on to add:

"The Government will continue to adopt a market-led, technology-neutral and facilitating approach in introducing new and innovative services for driving commerce and economic development in Hong Kong, and improving living quality."

The GovWiFi programme is being phased in, with the first batch of hotspots at more than 30 locations launched on Thursday, and covering government offices and major public libraries.

"With the implementation of GovWiFi, which will put in place 2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots covering 350 government locations by the middle of next year, the provision of public Wi-Fi services will continue to expand, maintaining Hong Kong's position among the leading cities in the world," Mr Ma concluded.

By mid-year the number of sites providing Wi-Fi hotspots will rise to 120, while another 230 premises will be ready by mid-2009.