XN000022-1978-03-19 — Page 4

SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 1978

REPORT ON ADVISORY COMMITTEE

ON TELEPHONE SERVICES PUBLISHED

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THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY CONNECTS 94 PER CENT OF ALL APPLICANTS WITHIN SEVEN WORKING DAYS OF RECEIVING A REQUEST FOR SERVICE, ACCORDING TO THE 19TH PERIODICAL REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TELEPHONE SERVICES (ACTS) COVERING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 1, 1976 TO OCTOBER 31, 1977.

THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS THIS AS +SATISFACTORY+.

+AT THE SAME TIME, THE ACTS IS CONCERNED THAT A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF APPLICANTS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE HAVE HAD TO WAIT A NUMBER OF MONTHS FOR INSTALLATION OF A TELEPHONE,+ ADDS THE REPORT.

+THIS WAS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, WHERE DELAYS OCCURRED FOR VARIOUS REASONS SUCH AS WHEN LANDOWNERS CANNOT BE TRACED OR REFUSE TO CONSENT TO A CABLE BEING LAID ACROSS THEIR PROPERTY.+

THE COMMITTEE ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO OVERALL CO-ORDINATING BODY WITHIN GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE RAPID PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR LAYING TELEPHONE CABLES OR ERECTING TELEGRAPH POLES AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT EXAMINE IN DETAIL ITS ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES WITH A VIEW TO STREAMLINING THEM.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION.

THE REPORT STATES THAT A SUB-COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN EXTENDING THE TELEPHONE NETWORK TO.REMOTE AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND TO OUTLYING ISLANDS. FOUR NEW TELEPHONE EXCHANGES WERE OPENED IN THE PAST YEAR +MARKING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF MAXIMUM REQUIRED PENETRATION OF THE TELEPHONE NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE RURAL AREAS.+

THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED A PROPOSAL TO PRODUCE A COMBINED HONG KONG/KOWLOON/NEW TERRITORIES BUSINESS DIRECTORY ANNUALLY AND FOR SEPARATE RESIDENTIAL DIRECTORIES TO BE ISSUED EVERY TWO YEARS, BUT DECIDED IT SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE TESTING PUBLIC DEMAND.

THE TELEPHONE COMPANY HAS ACCORDINGLY AGREED TO BRING FORWARD PUBLICATION OF THE NEXT RESIDENTIAL DIRECTORY FOR HONG KONG ISLAND.

WITH REGARD TO FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE TELEPHONE NETWORK AND THE PURCHASE OF NEW EXCHANGE EQUIPMENT, THE REPORT STATES THAT THE COMMITTEE IS +REASONABLY SATISFIED THAT THE TELEPHONE COMPANY HAS THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL.

THE REPORT SAYS THAT THE ACTS INTRODUCED A 24-HOUR RECORDED TELEPHONE COMPLAINTS SERVICE IN FEBRUARY, 1977, FOR A ONE-YEAR TRIAL PERIOD. A TOTAL OF 171 COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED UP TO THE END OF OCTOBER. 1977. EACH OF WHICH WAS THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND A FULL EXPLANATION GIVEN TO THE COMPLAINANT.

/4THE COMPLAINTS