The Internet offers a convenient means for e-commerce activities as transactions can be conducted almost anywhere and at anytime the user wants. E-commerce can occur at any stage of the supply chain, whether within an organisation, between businesses, and between businesses and consumers. The major barrier for the wider adoption of e-commerce is on the concerns about security and the protection of personal data when transactions are conducted over the Internet. The presence of supporting infrastructures is extremely important to address the identities of the parties involved, the integrity and confidentiality of the information transmitted, and the non-repudiation and legal status of the electronic transactions.
Private companies can also make use of the Infrastructure for the conduct of e-commerce.
To instill public's confidence on the use of electronic transactions, the Government has taken the lead to establish a public Certification Authority through the Hongkong Post. The Hongkong Post has established a Public Key Infrastructure . The Government is also providing a legal framework through the Electronic Transactions Ordinance to enhance certainty and security in the conduct of electronic transactions. The Ordinance seeks to give electronic records and digital signatures used in electronic transactions the same legal status as that of their paper-based counterparts. The other main objective of the Ordinance is to establish a framework which will promote and facilitate the establishment and operation of Certification Authorities in Hong Kong.