"It is inexpensive and fast to access rich information using the information super-highway," said Mr. Fung Kin Ming, a computer officer of the Computer Services Centre at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
To Dr. Michael Chang of the Information Engineering Department at the same university, the development of information super-highway is also necessary for Hong Kong's economy.
"The service sector has replaced the manufacturing one to be the most dominant industry here. Information is the pre-requisite to provide good services," he said.
However, the Internet also fulfils hackers' illicit desires.
Hackers enjoy trampling through the data jungle, utilizing the network to reach forbidden places. Although most seem more intent upon cleverness than crime. They may damage or steal the information.
Information super-highway facilitates the transmission and reception of pornography which comes in all forms: hot chats, erotic stories, explicit pictures. . . .
According to Computer Services Centre's Mr. Fung, however, its seriousness is exaggerated.
"Actually, using information super-highway is not as simple as using facsimile machines. Learning takes time.
"Rather than vice-uses, deficient interface is the biggest problem concerning the information highway in Hong Kong."
Said Dr. Chang: "I do believe that these cases are still uncommon in Hong Kong. By the way, illicit messages are often altered by the receivers."
Referring to the cultural imperialism of the developed countries resulting from the worldwide Internet, Professor Lee Chin Chuan of the Department of Journalism and Communication at the same university considers it a controversial issue.
He said, "That is liberation versus domination. The question should be decomposed in order to explain itself.
"At a global level, hardware and software of computers are produced by capitalist advanced countries. Western Marxist theorists believe that capitalists are dehumanising human life, and there are unequal relationships in the information world.
"Critics say there is a domination of cultural products, representing the major interests and perspectives of the capitalist countries. It violates the principle of national sovereignty.
"The range of activities (on the Internet), in fact, raises much concern for the integrity of cultural expression of the Third World people."
Eric Lam, senior controller of the Office of Telecommunications of the Telecommunications Authority, said non-interventionism has been adopted over the development of information super-highway here.
"The industry can only be developed with freedom.
"Its content is not regulated. The vice cases cited resemble criminals communicating among themselves on phones: There is no way to censor the content of their calls.
"What we are concerned with is merely the technical aspect involving the setting up and maintenance of the means of telecommunications.
"All Internet service suppliers need is the a Non-exclusive Telecommunication Service License," he added.
According to Mr. Lam, a license is needed when a service connected to public network is provided to the public_ in particular, Internet access and bulletin board services. This is stated in the Telecommunications Ordinance.
The ordinance states that all applicants of the license must have the financial capacity and willingness to invest sufficient capital to provide a satisfactory public service.
Also, the service proposed in the application must be technically sound and compatible with the local environment.
"There are good reasons to regulate the services to protect users. These include information confidentiality, compliance with international obligations and local ones, and ensuring network connectivity," he added.
A tariff composing $69 a line per month and $0.9 per minute is charged on individuals with a connection between a telephone line and a licensed Internet service.
Mr. Fung, however, does not like the present regulatory system.
"Internet service relates only to computer communication but not telecommunication.
"The government actually doesn't have enough knowledge to make laws on the Internet. The development of computerized communication is too fast and diversified for the laws to catch up.
"The imposition of tariff and licensing systems should be lifted in order to accelerate the development."
The government stated that services involving a 'third party' need a license, but that a closed user group need not. Drawing a line between them is not easy.
Internet Connections is an internet service supplier providing global electronic mail, library databases, and so on.
Mr. Raymond Tse, its spokesman, said the organization applied the license only when the Office of the Telecommunications Authority asked them to do so.
"The license requirements are not merely bounding Internet service but other communication means. We are not a cable company. I really doubt how much the government knows about our industry," he commented.
It was defined in the ordinance that "telecommunications service refers to any provision of facilities for use of members of the public or any person for the transmission or reception of messages.
But Mr. Tse said it was too vague. "What do they mean by `transmission or reception of messages?" he asked.
"Does this mean banks also need licenses to offer telephone banking services?"
Regarding the misuses of the system, he said, "Though the content of Internet messages is not regulated by the government, our customers are asked to follow some restrictions and responsibilities.
"For example, transmitting materials in violation of the laws are prohibited such as those concerning copyrights."
The development of information super-highway, as predicted by Mr. Tse, has a bright future in the long run though it seems a rugged path now.
"Non-interventionism is necessary in Hong Kong. The number of bulletin board services will diminish with the license requirements."