FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1991
"WE ARE WATCHING WITH INTEREST DEVELOPMENTS IN THR TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY AND THE REGULATORY REGIMES OF OUR MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS AND NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES.
"WE
ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT SOME OF OUR REGIONAL NEIGHBOURS HAVE, IN RECENT YEARS, GREATLY IMPROVED THEIR COMPETITIVE POSITION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS, BOTH IN TERMS OF RATES AND SERVICE PROVISION," SHE POINTED OUT.
MRS CHAN NOTED THAT IN SOME CASES, THIS IS A RESULT OF POSITIVE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION WITH A VIEW TO ENCOURAGING OVERSEAS COMPANIES то LOCATE THEIR BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED.
IS ΤΟ
"OUR TYPICALLY HONG KONG RESPONSE TO THIS CHALLENGE STIMULATE FURTHER OUR OWN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM BY CONSIDERING THE INTRODUCTION OF MORE COMPETITION IN THIS FIELD," SHE SAID.
ON THE DOMESTIC FRONT, HONG KONG ALREADY HAS A FULLY COMPETITIVE MARKET IN RADIO-BASED AND VALUE-ADDED SERVICES AND THE GOVERNMENT IS ACTIVELY REVIEWING THE FUTURE OF THE EXCLUSIVE LOCAL TELEPHONE FRANCHISE WHICH IS DUE TO EXPIRE IN 1995, SHE SAID.
"WE HAVE ENGAGED CONSULTANTS TO CONSIDER ALL REGULATORY OPTIONS AND ΤΟ RECOMMEND A STRATEGY WHICH WOULD BEST MERT OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS NEEDS AS A CENTRE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND FINANCE, SHE SAID.
**
IS MORE
"ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT, OUR ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE LIMITED BECAUSE THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS GRANTED TO OUR CARRIER DO NOT EXPIRE UNTIL 2006.
"NEVERTHELESS, WHERE THERE IS SCOPE FOR INTRODUCING COMPETITION OUTSIDE THE TERMS OF THOSE EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS, WE ARE DOING So," SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN CITED AS AN EXAMPLE THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH HONG KONG HAS RECENTLY ENTERED INTO WITH THE UNITED STATES TO FACILITATE THE COMPETITIVE PROVISION OF INTERNATIONAL VALUE-ADDED DATA AND FACSIMILE SERVICES OVER PRIVATE LEASED LINES.
"WE ARE EXPECTING TO CONCLUDE SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS WITH SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES SOON.
IS
WHICH SHE
"INDEED, WE WOULD BE PLEASED TO DISCUSS WITH ANY COUNTRY INTERESTED IN SETTING UP SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WITH HONG KONG, SAID, ADDING THAT THE SCOPE OF SERVICES ALLOWED UNDER THESE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE REVIEWED FROM TIME TO TIME.
"I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE MEASURES WE ARE TAKING TO OPEN UP OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS FURTHER ΤΟ COMPETITION WILL GO A LONG WAY ΤΟ MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF HONG KONG AS A PLACE FROM WHICH TO DO BUSINESS, BOTH IN THE REGION AND WORLDWIDE," SHE SAID.
OUTLINING HỌNG