Page 185 - Are You Future Ready?

Chapter Three - Right Place

billion) worth of the U.K.'s GDP. The report also quoted
examples from other countries: such as the Australian

government's opening of spatial data for free since 2001,
with an estimated benefit of USD70 million (nearly HK$550
million). The cost was only eight percent of the revenue.
This reinforces the view that making data available

generates benefits in excess of the cost involved.

The Lands Department should take the lead

With the above in mind, when opening up the data the 183

Hong Kong government departments should take account
of public needs and also attach geographic information to
the data required. This seems easy, but industry insiders
commented that it is quite cumbersome to unify the address

and location information from different sources and non-
unified formats. Therefore, the Lands Department, with its
rich experience, should take the lead to collaborate with
the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer

responsible for co-ordination. Jointly they should help other
departments to promote the opening of data.