Police, Symantec and Tung Wah Group unite in "Cyber Safe" Internet Security Awareness Programme

Campaign to raise awareness of Internet security among Hong Kong's schoolchildren, teachers and social workers

Hong Kong -- 6 June 2003 - The Hong Kong Police's Commercial Crime Bureau has teamed with Internet security leader Symantec Corp (Nasdaq: SYMC), and the Community Services Division of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in the "Cyber Safe" Internet Security Awareness Programme which is designed to promote greater awareness of Internet security among Hong Kong's schoolchildren, and the teachers and social workers who supervise them.

Launched today, the Programme is aimed at raising awareness of Internet security and educating young people on the dangers of hacking and cybercrime. According to the latest statistics unveiled by the Hong Kong Police, 187 technology crime cases were reported from January to April 2003, eight of the thirty three arrested were under the age of 18 and nine were students. There has been a sharp increase in cases related to online gaming - 96 between January and April 2003 compared to a total of 26 reported cases in the second half of 2002.

Internet security, intellectual copyright and permissible content are becoming major issues in the commercial world, both locally and overseas. With computer literacy commencing at younger and younger ages, it is important to educate schoolchildren as early as possible about the legal and ethical implications of their Internet use, and ensure that those who educate them are themselves aware of the issues involved.

"Cyber crime, online ethical supervision and security breaches are some of the most urgent problems facing both law enforcement and social welfare agencies" said Patrick Lam Cheuk-ping, Superintendent of Technology Crime Division, Commercial Crime Bureau, Hong Kong Police Force. "It's important to bring new generations onside in understanding these issues. We applaud this initiative and are delighted to help drive it."

The campaign includes a series of Programme events which will be open to the public. The first event, to be held on June 28, will include a large-scale seminar for frontline social workers and schoolteachers. Speakers from Hong Kong Police, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and Symantec will discuss Internet security issues from various perspectives --- sociological, psychological, legal, educational: why hacking happens, why schoolchildren are involved, what real cases are like, what the technology challenges are, etc.

This will be followed by a number of educational campaigns in July and August to build greater awareness of Internet Security. The first is a competition for secondary school students to design a website that promotes Internet security awareness, and a bookmark design competition for primary school students.

"Free access to the media can only come with responsibility and self-discipline," added Low Chen-yang, Service Co-ordinator (Children and Youth Centres), Community Services Division of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. "As educators and leading welfare organisations in society, it is our duty to pass on this value to our children, so that they will become future builders and guardians. We are glad to see that this project involves so much valuable creative work, and we look forward to seeing the fruits of this labour. "

Results of the website and bookmark competitions will be announced in September, with the winning bookmark being distributed to schools and welfare organisations that operate children and youth services. The winning website will be uploaded to link with those of the Hong Kong Police Force, Symantec and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals.

"Symantec is proud to be part of this important initiative. We hope to help Hong Kong schoolchildren and their advisors better understand the issues and implications of the Internet and our new Cyber Society," said David Sykes, North Asia Director of Symantec. "The Internet brings risk and responsibility along with its vast potential. By providing active and constructive focus through this programme we hope to promote children's creativity and natural inclination to explore this potential within safe guidelines".

About Technology Crime Prevention Unit
Technology Crime Prevention Unit (TCPU) is a unit under the Technology Crime Division (TCD) of the Hong Kong Police and responsible for the formulation and implementation of public awareness and crime prevention programs on computer security and technology crime related matters.

About Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals was established in 1870 under the mission, "To heal the sick and to relieve the distressed, to care for the elderly and to rehabilitate the disabled, to promote education and to nurture youngsters; and to raise the infants and to guide the children. "

After 133 years of development, Tung Wah has grown to become the largest non-governmental organization in Hong Kong with over 10,000 staff, operating a vast network of 189 service centres that include medical and health, education as well as community services. Each year, Tung Wah organizes various large-scale events to raise funds for its service development and the provision of free medical services. The web-site of Tung Wah is http://www.tungwah.org.hk.

About Symantec
Symantec, the world leader in Internet security technology, provides a broad range of content and network security software and appliance solutions to enterprises, individuals and service providers. The company is a leading provider of client, gateway and server security solutions for virus protection, firewall and virtual private network, vulnerability management, intrusion detection, Internet content and e-mail filtering and remote management technologies as well as security services to enterprises and service providers around the world. Symantec's Norton brand of consumer security products is a leader in worldwide retail sales and industry awards. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Symantec has worldwide operations in 36 countries. For more information, please visit www.symantec.com.