The Resounding Success of the Evolution and Localization of Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Identity: The Digital Trust Ecosystem International Forum

The breakthrough in self-managed digital certification technology has surpassed existing limitations while ensuring privacy rights, providing boundless security and opportunities to diverse sectors worldwide 

The Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure Forum has been dedicated to enhancing public and industry understanding of the crucial role played by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) projects. These projects ensure authenticity, integrity, confidentiality, and non-repudiation in electronic communications, while also addressing open network security concerns. The initiative strives to improve the operability and user-friendliness of PKI.

To harness the power of innovative technology amidst the ongoing pandemic and revitalize the cross-border economy and life, the Digital Trust Ecosystem International Forum was successfully held on 12th and 19th January 2021. The forum, organized by the Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure Forum, received funding from the Innovation and Technology Commission and garnered support from technology experts from the United States, Canada, and Europe.

The forum was chaired by Mr. William Gee, Partner of PwC China and Vice-Chairman of APKIC Vice Chairman of the Asia PKI Consortium. Distinguished guests included Mr. Alfred Sit, the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Dr. Bernard Chan, Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr. Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr. Victor Lam, Government Chief Information Officer, Mr. Jimmy Ng, Legislative Council member, Ms. Elizabeth Quat, Legislative Council member, Dr Allen Shi, President of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, Professor Albert Cheung, Chairman of Hong Kong Biotechnology Organization, Mr Gary Yeung, President of Smart City Consortium, Professor Joshua Mok, Vice-President of Lingnan University, Professor Lo Yuk Lam, President of HK Bio-Med Innotech Association, Professor Ho Lok sang, Senior Research Fellow of Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic Policy Research Institute, and other local experts.

In addition, renowned overseas experts also participated, including Ms. Ann Cavoukian, Former Information and Privacy Commissioner for the Canadian province of Ontario and Executive Director of Global Privacy & Security by Design, Mr. Drummond Reed, Co-Founder and Steering Committee Member of Trust over IP Foundation (ToIP) and Chief Trust Officer of Evernym, Mr. Stephan Wolf, CEO of Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF), Ms. Karla McKenna, Head of Standards of GLEIF, and Managing Director of GLEIF Americas. These experts delivered engaging speeches, sharing valuable insights on the potential and development opportunities in Hong Kong for blockchain-based self-managed digital certification technology, privacy data management, and the standardization of the Global Legal Entity Identifier (LEI).

The first seminar focused on how the government and technology industry could leverage innovative self-managed digital identity authentication technology. This includes incorporating verifiable digital certificates and open standards of ToIP to address issues of digital identity management, authentication, and challenges related to KYC, data collection, and regulatory compliance amidst the normalized epidemic situation.

Ms. Eva Chan, Chairman of the Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure Forum, emphasized that ToIP not only prioritizes privacy protection in its design and complies with Hong Kong's Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance but also establishes a trusted ecosystem through self-managed (distributed) digital identity infrastructure. This approach accelerates the enhancement of governance for public services, particularly in response to the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Dr. Allen Shi, President of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, shared the challenges faced by the business sector in trade development. He expressed hope for unified support from the Hong Kong government and all sectors for the ToIP and LEI solutions proposed during the seminar. These solutions aim to alleviate restrictions and foster the growth of cross-border trade amidst the pandemic.

Two seminars unveiled groundbreaking proposals for open-source standards and the establishment of a blockchain-based digital identity system through the Trust over IP (ToIP) initiative.

The second seminar focused on integrating digital identity with the banking and business sectors, highlighting the revolutionary potential of ToIP in automating compliance through digital infrastructure. By leveraging this technology, companies can reopen businesses in the post-pandemic era while reducing costs for governments and corporations. It streamlines KYC processes, financial transactions, including cross-border trade, and accelerates the provision of citizen services. This breakthrough not only benefits the banking and securities industries but also paves the way for significant advancements in financial technology. Hong Kong, as an international financial trade hub, has the potential to incorporate the Faster Payment System (FPS) into a decentralized digital infrastructure platform, streamlining various application processes.

1. Digital Health Pass: This solution manages and authenticates the secure use of necessary testing or vaccination information among governments, airlines, laboratories, and travelers. Global virus testing and vaccination institutions act as official health identity issuers, providing verified digital certificates to individuals. By carrying these digital health passes, individuals can present their virus testing and vaccination records to customs and immigration departments of different countries when traveling during a pandemic. The public trusted ledger on the blockchain records complete verification information, ensuring the integrity of results while safeguarding the privacy of personal data. This strategy is poised to reopen borders without the need for quarantine measures. The Digital Health Pass also has the potential to collaborate with international verification organizations and relevant departments to implement secure cross-border measures, such as the IATA Travel Pass.
   
   Moreover, the proposal suggests utilizing the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) standard to identify qualified laboratories, ensuring stricter control over virus testing institutions under government supervision. The LEI standard, based on the ISO 17442 standard set by the International Organization for Standardization, enables each country's laboratory department to compile a secure and trustworthy whitelist for mutual recognition between regions. The combination of the blockchain's distributed digital identity and the LEI code's international standard drives the development of the global digital economy, connecting the next generation of the digital world with the physical world.

2. Professor Lo Yuk Lam, President of HK Bio-Med Innotech Association, delivered an insightful discourse on the synergy between digitalization and biotechnology. He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to combat the pandemic and advocated for the establishment of a globally recognized development system. Implementing a secure health certificate platform allows other countries, regions, and citizens to refer to and utilize it. The application of digital trusted system standards can be extended to test reports and vaccine records, facilitating collaboration with other countries on the same platform, sharing vaccine-related information, and collectively overcoming the challenges posed by the current pandemic.
   
   The seminar brought innovative technologies and ideas to the forefront of pandemic prevention and control, receiving active participation, research, and support from the Hong Kong government and relevant institutions. The Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure Forum, in partnership with global leading digital identity advocates, joined the Trust Over IP Foundation established by the Linux Foundation in 2020, becoming a member of the ToIP Steering Committee and engaging in strategic cooperation on the digital health pass. Leveraging its resources and technical expertise, the Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure Forum aims to provide decentralized international digital health and travel pass for Hong Kong citizens, enabling the freedom of travel during the pandemic.
   
   Furthermore, Professor Joshua Mok, Vice-President of Lingnan University, shared insights on expanding the application of decentralized technology certification and exploring other development areas, particularly in academia. For example, universities can issue verifiable academic credentials, allowing any academic and business institution to verify the applicants' documents on the blockchain when applicants voluntarily share their data. Lingnan University is pioneering the establishment of a trusted blockchain data storage and sharing mechanism on campus.
   
   The Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure Forum plans to engage in cross-regional cooperation with organizations like Asia PKI Consortium (APKIC), combining biotechnology with the digital trusted system. It aims to establish interconnected partnerships based on digital identity systems with Southeast Asian countries and neighboring regions, creating international open-source blockchain standards. This facilitates the secure flow of personal information data across fields, levels, and nations, providing citizens with a more comprehensive and secure digital experience for travel and other aspects of economic life.

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