WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1992
GOVT SETS FOR PRO-COMPETITIVE TELECOMS POLECT
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TWO BILLS THAT REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATION'S COMMITMENT ΤΟ A PRO-COMPETITIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE
WHEN PASSED, THE NEW TELECOMMUNICATION ORDINANCE WILL GIVE GOVERNNENT KEY POWERS TO PROTECT CONSUMER INTERESTS AND FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPETITIVE MARKET THAT IS VITAL TO MAINTAINING HONG RONG'S POSITION AS A MAJOR REGIONAL FINANCIAL, COMMERCIAL AND SERVICES CENTRE.
INTRODUCING THE TELEPHONE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992 AND TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL. 1992, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID: "I CAN THINK OF FEW BETTER ADVERTISEMENTS FOR ATTRACTING NEW PLAYERS INTO OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET THAN THE INTRODUCT LON AND PASSAGE OF THIS LEGISLATION.'
SERVICES
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THE TWO BILLS WILL VEST THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY WITH A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT NEW POWERS ARISING FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF PRICE- CAPPING AND THE LICENSING OF COMPETITIVE LOCAL FIXED NETWORKS.
"THIS IS INDICATIVE OF THE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY IN ENSURING FAIR PLAY IN THE MARKET PLACE, ON WHICH INVESTMENT DECISIONS INVOLVING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SO CRUCIALLY DEPEND.
THE
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ADMINISTRATION HAS NOW DECIDED IMPORTANCE, SCOPE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE WORK REGULATION JUSTIFY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TELECOMMUN (CATIONS AUTHORITY WITHIN GOVERNMENT, POST OFFICE SHE SAID.
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THAT THE INCREASING OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AN OFFICE OF THE BUT SEPARATE FROM THE
SUBJECT TO FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVAL, THE OFFICE WILL BE A NEW GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT WITH ALL THE STAFF CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN TELECOMMUN LOAT LONS MATTERS IN THE POST OFFICE TRANSFERRED TO IT.
NRS CHAN SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE TWO BILLS WAS то FACILITATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TWO KFY TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY INITIATIVES: A PRICE-CAPPING SCHENK FOR LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICE CHARGES AND THE
INTRODUCTION OF FIXED NETWORK COMPETITION.
IN ORDER TO INTRODUCE THE PRICE-CAPPING SCHEME, A CLAUSE IS PROVIDED IN THE TELEPHONE (AMENDMENT) BILL FOR THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY TO SPECIFY THE CHARGES THAT THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY MAY LEVY FOR ITS SERVICES.
FOR
THE CLAUSE ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE SPIRETARY
ECONOMIC SERVICES TO MAKE REGULATIONS GOVERNING REVISIONS TO THE SPECIFIED CHARGES.
OF
MRS CHAN SATÐ THE ADMINISTRATION INTENDED TO REVIEW THE LEVELS THE OVERALL, PRICE-CAP AND THE SUB-CAPS IN THE THIRD OPERATION OF THE PRICE-CAPPING SYSTEM.
YEAR
OF
/IN ORDER
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