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Market competition does good to telecommunications
In a vast evolving and hi-tech industry like telecommunications, the most effective way to spur technological innovations and stay competitive is not through Government intervention, but market competition, the Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, said.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Hongkong Telecom Tower today (Friday), the Chief Secretary remarked that Hong Kong was now proud to have one of the most liberal local telecom markets in the world today.
Starting July 1, local fixed network services have been opened to competition.
Mrs Chan said through competition, it was expected that in the next few years, there would be many more intelligent buildings like the Hongkong Telecom Tower and a rapid extension of fibre optic technology and broadband services to all homes and offices in Hong Kong.
"It will give us a head start in the Information Age and turn Hong Kong into an intelligent city well ahead of our competitors," she said.
Mrs Chan said the state-of-the-art optical fibre system in the Tower would help to promote the development of Hong Kong's information super-highway by setting a new standard of building design.
"This very impressive building not only provides the office space to meet the future development of Hongkong Telecom, but it also represents a significant commitment of Hongkong Telecom to the future of Hong Kong," said the Chief Secretary,
End/Friday, July 7, 1995
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