necessary.
has accounted reasonably for contingencies in building its cable television network, HKCC may have under-estimated some costs. However, ADL concludes that these higher costs would not have a significant adverse effect on the overall viability of HKCC's proposal.
Telecommunications network
23
In
Both HKCC and HCV have proposed sophisticated telecommunications networks employing
employing fibre optic cables to link business centres. HKCC's proposal is more advanced conceptually and technologically than that of HCV. addition, HKCC's network seems to provide greater security of service through more extensive use of backup loops. Overall however, ADL considers that while HKCC may have an edge for a more advanced technical approach, in general the information provided was not sufficient ly detailed to conclude definitively that one or the other of the network proposals would better serve future telecommunications needs.
Public disruption
to
24
ADL concludes that, on balance, there is little choose between HKCC and HCV with regard to public disruption. Both intend to make extensive use of existing tunnels and ducts to minimise disruption. HCV proposes shallow trenching as a means of reducing disruption, although this could be a short term gain if it results in the need to undertake more on-street repair work because of increased vulnerability to damage. In the final analysis both would be constrained by the same restrictions laid down by the Director of Highways on duct installation.
Telecommunications policy aspects
25
3
on
Following consideration of memorandum XCC (88) 87 12 July 1988 the Council ADVISED and the Governor ORDERED, inter alia, that the Government should encourage competition in the provision of non-franchised telecommunication services; that there should therefore be a second network with separate licences for the provision of the network and for the operation of cable television services; and that the network licensee should be allowed to offer telecommunication services not covered by existing franchises. The telecommunications proposals of the bidders therefore need to be judged against the objective of encouraging competition in non-franchised services by means
second telecommunications network.
of
a