COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Satellite Communications
Two Hong Kong companies, APT Satellite Company Limited and Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), hold licences under the Telecommunication Ordinance and the Outer Space Ordinance to operate and provide satellite communication services. AsiaSat successfully launched a new satellite, AsiaSat 3S, on March 21. As at the end of December, the two satellite companies were operating three satellites each.
Teleport
The Government has earmarked a teleport site in Chung Hom Kok where providers of external telecommunications facilities and broadcasters can establish external links to and from Hong Kong. The site will be developed in two phases. The site formation work for Phase 1 has already been completed. The result of the first tender exercise would be announced in early 2000.
Internet Access Services
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) numbered 159 by the end of the year. The number of registered customer accounts with dial-up access was 1 734 254, or 25 dial-up access accounts per 100 inhabitants.
Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill 1999
In May, the Government introduced the Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill 1999 into the Legislative Council. The bill aims to streamline the licensing framework to cope with the rapid development of the telecommunications industry, enhance the competition safeguards for the industry, improve interconnection and access arrangements to telecommunications services, and provide the TA with appropriate powers over certain technical areas. The council set up a committee to scrutinise the bill.
International Activities
Hong Kong continued to participate in the activities of international and regional telecommunications organisations. As a member of the China delegation, Hong Kong was represented in conferences and meetings convened by the International Mobile Satellite Organisation, the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation and the International Telecommunication Union. As 'Hong Kong, China', Hong Kong participated in its own right in the meetings of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity and the Telecommunications Working Group of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co- operation (APEC). Hong Kong also took part in the initiative to implement the APEC Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment. The International Telecommunication Union announced in June that it would hold its ITU TELECOM Asia 2000 meeting in Hong Kong in December 2000. The event is expected to be the largest ever for the telecommunications industry in Asia.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting Policy and Regulation
The broadcasting policy objectives are to promote programme choice and diversity through competition, facilitate introduction of new, innovative broadcasting services
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