XN000022-1975-03-04 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1975

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PHONE PROBE:

FIRST PUBLIC HEARING NEXT MONDAY

A TOTAL OF FIVE PUBLIC MEETINGS OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY HAS BEEN ARRANGED OVER A PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS. ADDITIONAL HEARINGS WILL BE ARRANGED IF NECESSARY.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION, SIR ALASTAIR BLAIR-KERR, ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO HOLD THESE MEETINGS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THE FIRST WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY (MARCH 10) DEGINNING AT 0.30 AM.

THE DATES FOR THE OTHER MEETINGS WILL BE THE 13TH, 17TH, 18TI! AND 21ST OF MARCH, ALL SITTINGS WILL DEGIN AT 0.30 AM.

SIR ALASTAIR SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE HEARINGS WAS TO RECORD EVIDENCE FROM PEOPLE WANTING TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS BEFORE THE COMMISSION REGARDING THE AFFAIRS OF THE TELEPHONE COMPANY.

*SUCH HEARINGS WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, UNLESS THE WITNESS CONCERNED PREFERS TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN PRIVATE, SIR ALASTAIR STRESSED,

HE SAID THAT PEOPLE WISHING TO GIVE EVIDENCE OR MAKE STATE- MENTS SHOULD CONTACT THE SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION ON TELEPHONE NUMBER 5-95334 TO ARRANGE A SUITABLE TIME.

+THIS, SIR ALASTAIR SAID, WILL AVOID WITNESSES' TIME AND THAT OF THE COMMISSIONERS, DEING WASTED.*

THE CHAIRMAN AGAIN REMINDED PEOPLE OR ORGANISATIONS THAT THEY COULD MAKE WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ON ANY MATTER RELATING TO THE COMMISSION'S TERMS OF REFERENCE. THEY SHOULD SEND THEM TO THE SECRETARY, COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, ROOM 120, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOVER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.

SPECIAL NOTICES OUTLINING THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COMMISSION AND THE DATES AND VENUE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL APPEAR IN THE MAJOR NEWSPAPERS TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AND ON THURSDAY.

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