XN000022-1975-03-06 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1975.

+POOR RESPONSE TO PUBLIC PHONE HEARINGS

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THE RESPONSE TO THE INVITATION TO APPEAR BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE TELEPHONE COMPANY DURING THE NEXT TWO WEEKS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS +POOR✨.

THE SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION, MR. DONALD TSANG SAID THAT UP UNTIL LATE, THIS AFTERNOON ONLY TWO PEOPLE HAD CONTACTED HIM AND ASKED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMISSION

IN PUBLIC.

THIS IS SURPRISING. HE SAID, ÷PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THE APPARENTLY STRONG PUBLIC REACTION TO THE PROVISONAL

INCREASES APPROVED LAST MONTH.*

MR. TSANG EXPLAINED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, AT THIS STAGE, WAS TO RECORD EVIDENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHED TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ON MATTERS FALLING WITHIN THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COMMISSION.

HE ADDED THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE ALSO WELCOME TO REQUEST HEARINGS IN PRIVATE OR TO SUBMIT WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS.

MR. TSANG EMPHASISED THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD NOT SUMMON WITNESSES TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMISSION TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS DURING THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

MR. TSANG REPEATED HIS REQUEST THAT ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMISSION DURING THE COMING OPEN HEARINGS SHOULD TELEPHONE HIM AND OBTAIN AN APPOINTMENT. HIS TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 5-95334.

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