XN000022-1975-02-05 — Page 10

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WEDNESDAY, FEBURARY 5, 1975

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT SOME OF THOSE FIGURES WERE ONLY FORECASTS AND THESE WERE MADE IN LATE 1974 ON CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS AS TO OVERHEADS, INTEREST RATES, INFLATIONARY TRENDS AND EXPECTED DEMANDS.

IF THE SITUATION CHANGED, HE ADDED, THE FIGURES WOULD LOOK VERY DIFFERENT.

MR. LO THEN TURNED TO SOME OF THE POINTS WHICH, HE SAID, HAD CAUSED CONSIDERABLE RESENTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

FIRSTLY, HE SAID: THE GOVERNMENT HAS NEVER CLEARLY STATED WHAT RESPONSIBILITY IT CONSIDERS THAT IT OWES TO THE PUBLIC IN RESPECT OF UTILITIES IN GENERAL AND THIS UTILITY IN PARTICULAR.+

REFERRING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION OF APPOINTING A DIRECTOR WHO WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ALL NECESSARY INFORMATION OF THE TELEPHONE COMPANY, MR. LO THOUGHT THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ALREADY HAD THESE POWERS PARTLY BECAUSE OF SECTION 31 OF THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE AND PARTLY BECAUSE HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

ANOTHER REASON WHY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC REACTED IN THE WAY THEY DID WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE KEPT IN THE DARK ON THE FIGURES WHICH FORMED THE BASIS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S REPORT AND THOSE WHICH FORMED THE BASIS OF GOVERNMENT'S DECISION IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

FULLY.

HE HOPED THAT THE COMMISSION'S REPORT WOULD BE DISCLOSED

MR. LO ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE WAS EXPIRING IN FIVE MONTHS TIME.

+THE LEGISLATION ITSELF IS ARCHAIC. IF THE GOVERNMENT QWISHES TO SHOW THAT IT DOES FEEL A DEFINITE RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS THIS UTILITY, I TRUST THAT WORK WILL SOON START ON IT TO REVISE IT AND BRING IT UP-TO-DATE,+. HE ADDED.

ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON. JAMES WU CALLED ON MANAGEMENT OF ALL BUSINESS, LARGE AND SMALL, IN A COMPACT COMMUNITY LIKE HONG KONG AND AT A TIME OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, TO DEMONSTRATE A SENSE OF SOCIAL CONSCIENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.

/HE SAID THAT

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