Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with China International Intellectech Corporation (CIIC) to launch an offshore IT sourcing initiative for members.

Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2000, the Chamber and CIIC will find third-party solutions to make whatever IT related project members wish to implement in their business a reality. Projects could range from setting up a Web site, to writing a software program for their business to designing a new operating system for a company's specific needs.

"Under this project we will introduce IT personnel from China to develop software, IT projects or even e-commerce strategies for Hong Kong businesses," Eva Chow, chief of the Chamber's International Business Division, said.

According Ms Chow, HKGCC decided to launch the service after a recent survey of Chamber members found that 90 per cent of companies polled said they have vacancies for IT personnel, while 25 per cent of companies said they could not find IT and e-business people to fulfil their needs.

"Around 40 per cent of all the companies we spoke to said that they outsourced Internet and related technology projects. Interestingly, 60 per cent of respondents said, because of the lack of qualified IT personnel in Hong Kong, they were interested in outsourcing to Mainland Chinese firms. This is also cost effective," she said.