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dividend payable to shareholders being limited to a
maximum rate of 15 per cent. Any additional surplus
was to be used solely for the reduction of subscription
rates.
"
Effect was given to these proposals by the Telephone Ordinance, 1925. According to the schedule
of that Ordinance the annual rate to be id by subscribers per exchange line within Victoria, Kowloon and the Peak district was 108, subject to revision upwards if the rate was found to be insufficient to make provision for an eficient service and for the payment of the minimu: dividend of 8 per cent per annul.
In this connection it will be remembered that the dollar
in 1925 was the equivalent of 2/4d.
In 1930 the annual rate was increased, with
the approval of this Council to 117 per exchange line, at which figure it has remained. With the flat rate basis, by which subscribers in Hong long may havÊ
unlimited calls for the standard rate of subscription,
it is difficult to make accurate comparison, yet it
may safely be said that the Hong Kong telephone subscription rate compares favourably with the lowest to be found elsewhere and that the modern service provided
is of a high standard notwithstanding the exacting
climatic conditions. The interests of the subscriber
have, therefore, been well served. I would remark
in passing that the Telephone Committee, 1922, appointed to report on the telephone service in Hong kong recommended an annual rate of $120 for the year 1926 under the old manual syste and expected that the cost of a modernised system would necessitate a further suostantial increase in that ilgure. That the charges had been kept down
to the present rate has been due to a comination of
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.