25
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1994
IN ADDITION, TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW OPERATORS WILL INTRODUCE THEIR SERVICES EXPEDITIOUSLY ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE LICENCES, SPECIAL CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THEIR LICENCES COMMITTING THEM TO A SPECIFIC PROGRAMME OF INVESTMENT AND NETWORK ROLL-OUT. AS A CONDITION FOR THE GRANT OF THEIR LICENCES THE NEW OPERATORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE OUT A PERFORMANCE BOND WHICH WILL BE FORFEITED IF THEY FAIL ΤΟ MEET COMMITMENTS WITHOUT A VALID REASON. ALL FOUR LICENCES WILL BE MADE PUBLIC AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN GRANTED.
AS REGARDS INTERCONNECTION, THE FOUR OPERATORS ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO REACH AGREEMENT THROUGH COMMERCIAL NEGOTIATION. THIS IS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY TO REACH INTERCONNECTION ARRANGEMENTS THAT BEST MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL OPERATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENTS. SHOULD THE NEGOTIATIONS FAIL, OR THE AGREEMENTS REACHED BETWEEN ANY OF THE OPERATORS BE DEEMED TO BE ANTI- COMPETITIVE OR AGAINST CONSUMER INTERESTS, THE TA IS EMPOWERED UNDER THE TELECOMMUNICATION ORDINANCE (CAP 106) AND IN THE LICENCE CONDITIONS TO INTERVENE AND DETERMINE FAIR TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR INTERCONNECTION. THE TA IS MONITORING THE PROGRESS OF THE INTERCONNECTION NEGOTIATIONS CLOSELY AND WILL CONSIDER TAKING A ACTIVE ROLE IF HE FEELS THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE NOT PROCEEDING SATISFACTORILY.
MORE
0
GOVERNMENT NOT COMPLACENT ABOUT INFLATION
FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY DR THE HON DAVID LI KWOK-PO AND A WRITTEN REPLY BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR HAMISH MACLEOD, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):
QUESTION: THE CORE INFLATION (EXCLUDING SUCH ITEMS AS FOOD AND ENERGY) DURING THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1994 HAS REMAINED STABILISED AT 9.1 PER CENT, SUGGESTING THAT INFLATION MAY NOT BE SUBSIDING DESPITE RECENT MODERATIONS IN THE INFLATION RATE. WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL OF THE CONCRETE ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO TACKLE INFLATION AS A MEANS OF MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING HONG KONG'S COMPETITIVENESS IN THE REGION?
/ANSWER: