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605*3/47
DRAFT KIMORANDUM.
BRITISH GUIANA TELEPHONE SERVICE.
POSSIBLE OPERATION ON AG NCY BASIS.
み、
Τη
1. The Telephone and General Trust offered
to purchase the British Guiana Telephone and
Telegraph System. This offer was refused. It
has, however, been proposed that the possibility
of utilising the services of a commercial company
on an agency basis should be considered.
this connection it has been suggested that a
modified version of the agreement made with the
Hong Kong Telephone Company might prove suitable
for British Guiana. An expert investigation
into the British Guiana telephone system is at
present proceeding, and no decision as to the
future ownership, operation or control of that
system can be taken until the expert report is
available. eanwhile, however, a preliminary
examination can be made of certain points which
would arise under an agency agreement in British
Guiana similar to that in Hong Kong.
2. A note on the Hong Kong telephone service
is attached. The main points which are of
interest to British Guiana can perhaps best be
considered from the standpoint of the various
parties concerned, namely, the company, the ;
shareholders, the subsoribers and the Government.
3. The Commany would want sole rights for as
long a term as possible. A very long period
should be avoided, however, since, in a time of
change, this might prove prejudicial to the
public interest. Too short a period, on the other
hand, would stifle initiative and enterprise,
because the Commany would be loth to embark on new
/developments