I host a radio programme about IT. We have often discussed Web 2.0 on the programme, asking what exactly it is. It is hard to come up with a fixed definition of Web 2.0, though one can say that it revolves around the ease of sharing and communication through online services. Youtube for example, is a video sharing website that we are all familiar with. We can share our video clips there, rate them, submit comments and even repost videos on a blog. In addition to Youtube, there are tools that allow easy sharing, such as Flickr web album, Del.icio.us, the social bookmarking tool, and Twitter, an SMS-based service. Tools such as Google Docs or Zoho Office enhance communication and information sharing within a working group.

Most of these web tools have been developed overseas and are largely for the English speaking world — how about tools for the Chinese speaking market? We do have a number of Web 2.0 services from mainland China and Taiwan – for instance, funP, HEMiDEMi and 365Key are Chinese social bookmarking services, and there are also many web album options.

Between Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan, the latter two seem to have thrived in terms of web development, offering fresh applications, websites and software every now and then. Hong Kong, in contrast, seems to lack such innovative tools. Hong Kong does have its own Web 2.0 companies, some of which were not solely established to make profit in the stock market. To be fair, there are blogs, chat and web album services from Hong Kong providers, but unfortunately, not many have stayed the course.

Hong Kong is lagging behind in terms of web development, which is ironic and perhaps even unacceptable to some.

And Hong Kong's cyber eco-system is not doing too well in adapting local Web 2.0 services. Why is this? First, some Hong Kong people are happy to read English-language interfaces (many people even prefer them). Second, what's our attitude towards these Web 2.0 services? If we still perceive Web 2.0 services as tools for gossip - useful for things like monitoring the "bus uncle" web clip that captured a young man being insulted on public transport – then I suppose we must admit that Hong Kong is indeed unsophisticated in terms of cyber development.

Perhaps we should all start to learn more, and use bookmarks to share with others the websites we've browsed. Or perhaps we should try to learn new web services and, lastly, support local productions.

By Jansen

*Translation from Chinese article.