With Richard's support, the PCCW Solutions unit has successfully attracted worldwide experts in state-of-the-art technology to enable the launch of the Smart ID Card to the Hong Kong community, one of the largest deployments of smart cards in the region at the time.

PCCW Solutions was able to assemble a consortium of international experts in multi-application smart card operating systems, public key infrastructures, electronic workflows, digital imaging, microelectronics, biometrics, messaging and database to develop a sophisticated smart card platform to serve the Hong Kong community. Turnkey solutions included business process re-engineering, and fully electronic workflow systems with digital imaging and biometrics adopted for processing the ID card registration and issuance. It also provided robust data security and privacy protection. The project applied industrial standards and cutting-edge technologies in advanced security for the whole system, covering smart card application design and system-wide access control.

PCCW Solutions and the consortium, together with the dedicated project team, worked day and night for a total 18 months, resulting in successful implementation. The Smart ID card system (SMARTICS) started to serve the public on June 23, 2003 and the mass ID card replacement exercise began on August 18, 2003. It is on schedule and on target in terms of transaction volume. Thousands of Smart ID cards are registered and issued each day. The average time for the whole registration process has greatly shortened to just minutes. The system also satisfies the most stringent requirements in personal data privacy and data security.

The projects have not only demonstrated PCCW Solutions' ability to manage and deliver the most complex IT projects, but has also nurtured a team of IT professionals with emerging skill sets not easily found in the market, in smart card, advanced security and biometrics.

The SMARTICS project has been recognized by both the Hong Kong and international community. It won a significant award for its comprehensive functions, creativity and security in Hong Kong, and represented Hong Kong in winning another award in the Asia Pacific region. It also received an award in card technology breakthrough from a prestigious international forum [in 2004 for the use of innovative biometric technology, multiple applications and comprehensive coverage of the entire Hong Kong population.