ZCZC
HMLNAN 8083
CONFIDENTIAL
RR OTTER
FM MKBTC TO OTTER
040835Z FEB
GRS 150
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE DTI
TELNO OTTER 26
OF 040835Z FEBRUARY 87
dick 306/..
RECEIVED
REGISTRY
- 4FEB 1987
VSIRY
Action Taken
mek
HKD
DTI TRED
NO DISTRATION
THE TAY
WAS NOW ADVANCES
FOR TRACY OT2
YOUR OTTER 39: BRITISH TELECOM
HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SUCH SPECIFIC STATEMENT. HOWEVER CABLE AND WIRELESS (CW) AND BRITISH TELECOM (BT) ARE IN KEEN COMPETITION
FOR HONG KONG'S FIRST CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE.
2. CW (AS HONG KONG TELEPHONE WHO HAVE THE TELEPHONE FRANCHISE AND AN EXTENSIVE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY) ARE IN A CONSORTIUM WITH OTHER LOCAL COMPANIES INCLUDING SWIRE PACIFIC. BT HAVE JOINED FORCES WITH HUTCHISON AND HONG KONG ELECTRIC (WHO HAVE A NETWORK OF DUCTS THAT COULD BE USED FOR CABLE) AND SIR RUN RUN SHAW, THE FILM MAKER.
3. BT ARE NEWCOMERS AND HAVE JUST OPENED AN OFFICE IN HONG KONG. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE AND THE HEAD OF HONG KONG TELEPHONE ARE ENGAGED IN A DUEL IN THE CORRESPONDENCE COLUMNS OF THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST OVER WHO COULD BEST HANDLE THE TELEVISION FRANCHISE. THEY HAVE USED HARSH WORDS ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE TELEPHONE SERVICES IN THE UK AND HONG KONG.
4. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED IN THE PRESS THAT HUTCHISON/BT ARE
INTERESTED IN MORE THAN THE CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE AND WOULD LIKE TO ESTABLISH A NETWORK THAT COULD CARRY OTHER INTERACTIVE
SERVICES AS WELL. CW ARE NOT AT ALL HAPPY ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVE
SUGGESTED THAT WHOEVER IS LICENSED TO PROVIDE THE CABLE TV THE
SERVICE COULD BE CARRIED OVER HONG KONG TELEPHONE'S NETWORK.
5. AS I AM SURE YOUR COLLEAGUES IN OT4 WILL REALISE IT WOULD BE
BEST NOT TO BE DRAWN INTO THIS BATTLE.
HOLLOWAY
YYYY
HMLNAN 8083
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