Page 185 - Are You Future Ready?
P. 185

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.
   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190