24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref : EIC 891/1/2
28 September 2020
Dear Sirs,
Commercial Information Circular No. 721/2020
Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 12/2020
Australia : Reform of "Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Systems of National Significance" Framework
The Australian Government is undergoing a reform of the regulatory framework to protect its critical infrastructure and systems of national significance ("the Reform"). This circular provides information for traders' reference.
DETAILS
2.The primary objective of the Reform is to protect Australia's critical infrastructure from all hazards, including the dynamic and potentially catastrophic cascading threats enabled by cyber attacks. Through amending the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 ("the Act"), the Australian Government will introduce an enhanced regulatory framework to owners and operators of relevant critical infrastructure; including entities within the banking and finance, communications, data and the Cloud, defence industry, education, research and innovation, energy, food and grocery, health, space, transport and water.
3.Major initiatives of the Reform include (i) enhancing positive security obligation for critical infrastructure entities, supported by sector-specific requirements; (ii) enhancing cyber security obligations for entities which are most important to the nation; and (iii) providing government assistance for entities in response to significant cyber attacks on Australian systems. The Australian Government aims to introduce amendments to the Act from September to late 2020, and will work with relevant industries to design sector-specific standards from late 2020 to early 2021. The initiatives under the Reform are expected to take effect in mid-2021. Details of the Reform are available at the following link (English only) - https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-publications/submissions-and-discussion-papers/protecting-critical-infrastructure-systems.
ENQUIRIES
4.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact us at 2398 5594.
Yours faithfully,
(Miss Carmen Chan)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
Note: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.