FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1975
GOVT.
REPRESENTATIVE TO BE APPOINTED
TO TELEPHONE COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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THE APPOINTMENT OF A GOVERNMENT DIRECTOR TO THE BOARD OF THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY IS ONE OF THE TWO PROVISIONS IN A BILL PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.
IF PASSED, THE TELEPHONE (AMENDMENT) BILL WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT AN ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR TO THE BOARD WHOSE MAIN RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION ENSURES THAT THE NEW DIRECTOR WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ALL MATERIAL CONCERNING THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY AND WILL BE TREATED AS IF HE HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO THE BOARD AT A GENERAL MEETING OF THE COMPANY. HOWEVER, HE MAY NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE BOARD EXCEPT BY THE GOVERNOR.
THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR WAIVING OF ANY ROYALTY PAID BY THE COMPANY TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS 1974 AND 1975.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST WEEK THAT APPROVAL WOULD BE SOUGHT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE MEASURES IF THEY WERE AGREED TO BY THE TELEPHONE COMPANY.
THEY FORMED PART OF AN +IMMEDIATE PACKAGE OF MEASURES+ PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE URGENT AND DIFFICULT SITUATION FACED BY THE COMPANY AND THE PUBLIC ALIKE+. THE PACKAGE INCLUDED A PROPOSED 30 PER CENT INCREASE IN TELEPHONE RENTALS, INSTEAD OF THE 70 PER CENT APPLIED FOR BY THE COMPANY, AND THAT NO DIVIDEND PAYMENTS WOULD BE MADE BY THE COMPANY IN 1975.
IN HIS STATEMENT, IN WHICH HE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE SETTING UP OF A COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID TO REFUSE ANY INCREASE IN CHARGES AT THIS TIME WOULD PRECIPITATE A CRISIS IN THE COMPANY'S AFFAIRS WHICH WOULD NOT BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.+
CHARITY SHOW TO HELP THE AGED
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FIVE YOUTH GROUPS ATTACHED TO THE WESTERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE WILL BE STAGING A VARIETY SHOW ON SATURDAY EVENING (FEBRUARY 1) TO RAISE FUNDS FOR A LUNAR NEW YEAR PARTY FOR OLD PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT.
THE SHOW WILL BE HELD AT KING'S COLLEGE IN BONHAM ROAD FROM 7.30 TO 10 P.M., AND WILL INCLUDE FOLK SONGS, A MAGIC SHOW, CHINESE CLASSICAL DANCES AND TWO PLAYS AMONG OTHER ITEMS OF ENTERTAINMENT.
TICKETS AT $3 AND $5 CAN BE OBTAINED AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE IN WESTERN STREET, HONG KONG.
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