-
· 40 -
International telecommunications charges
Following is a question by the Hon Lau Chin-shek and a written reply by the Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Gordon Siu, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Regarding the charges for international telecommunications services, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the breakdown by region, of the percentage increase or decrease in the international telephone charges for calls from Hong Kong to overseas countries and territories in each of the past three years;
(b) of the differences between the international telephone charges levied by Hongkong Telecom International Limited and those levied by other companies offering similar services in each of the past three years;
(c) whether the Government has any plan to negotiate with Hongkong Telecom International Limited to secure a further reduction in international telephone charges levied by the company; and
(d) whether the Government and Hongkong Telecom International Limited have formulated any specific measures to reduce the international telephone charges for calls between Hong Kong and mainland China?
Reply:
Mr President.
(a) A breakdown by region of the percentage changes to the international telephone charges for calls from Hong Kong to overseas countries and territories during the past three years is at Annex A.
(b) Within the Hong Kong Telecom Group, IDD charges are collected by the Hong Kong Telephone Company (HKTC). Details of the differences between the international telephone charges levied by HKTC and those levied during the past three years by other companies offering similar services in respect of the more popular routes is at Annex B.