Microsoft chairman Bill Gates lent his support yesterday to the $13 billion cyberport project.
Mr Gates, speaking at the launch of a joint venture with Hongkong Telecom, said: 'I think it's great the Government is working with private enterprise to create a place for software companies.
'Certainly it would make sense for us to have lab facilities and support facilities in the cyberport.' The project, announced in the Budget, is a government-led attempt to jump-start the development of a local electronic commerce industry. Mr Gates added: 'Three years ago, did the politicians here and in most countries talk about the Internet? They did not. Today, they see that as something that's going to create the economic growth for the next phase.' Mr Gates had dinner with Richard Li Tzar-kai, who is behind the cyberport venture, on Monday. No contracts have been signed, however.
Mr Li is writing the foreword to a Chinese-language edition of Mr Gates' new book, Business and the Speed of Thought: Using a Digital Nervous System.
'We've worked together with Richard over the years and if it's something he's enthused about, we'll be as helpful as we can be,' Mr Gates said.
Mr Gates' deal with Hongkong Telecom allows computer users to download news, films, music, games and business software at high speeds over Telecom's fibre-optic network.