XN000022-1980-07-23 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 1980

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ANY CARRIER TO AND FROM LONDON

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GOVERNMENT SERVANTS ARE FREE TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM LONDON BY ANY CARRIER OPERATING THE ROUTE, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TOLD TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON R.H. LOBO, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS SAID A CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH CIRCULAR HAS NOW BEEN ISSUED ADVISING GOVERNMENT SERVANTS THAT FROM TODAY THEY MAY CHOOSE TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM LONDON BY ANY OF THE THREE BRITISH AIRLINES LICENSED TO OPERATE THE ROUTE.

HE SAID THIS WAS THE RESULT OF NEGOTIATIONS WHICH ENDED ON JULY 21.

COMPUTER ISED TELEPHONE CHARGES

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A MOTION TO INCLUDE THE CHARGES FOR A NEW SERVICE BY THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY IN THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE.

IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON SAID THE TELEPHONE COMPANY PLANS TO OFFER TO SUBSCRIBERS, ON RENTAL TERMS, A MODERN DIGITAL EXCHANGE KNOWN AS THE COMPUTERISED BUSINESS TELEPHONE SYSTEM (40 + 144).+

EXPLAINING THE SYSTEM, HE SAID IT COULD COMPRISE AS MANY AS 40 EXCHANGE LINES AND 144 EXTENSIONS AND WOULD OFFER MODERN FACILITIES INCLUDING AUTOMATIC CALL DISTRIBUTION, CONFERENCE CALLS AND DIRECT DIALLING INTO EXTENSIONS.

THE RENTAL OF THIS PRIVATE AUTOMATIC BRANCH EXCHANGES (PABX), HE SAID, WOULD BE BASED ON A MINIMUM RENTING TERM OF ONE YEAR AND DISCOUNTS WOULD BE GIVEN TO SUBSCRIBERS WHO OPT TO SIGN LONGER TERM CONTRACTS.

THE PROPOSED CHARGES WERE CONSIDERED +REASONABLE BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.

SIX BILLS PASSED

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SIX BILLS RECEIVED THE IR THIRD READING AND WERE PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THEY WERE THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT)(NO. 3) BILL 1980, THE CORONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, THE PHARMACY AND POISONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 THE PNEUMOČONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) BILL 1980, THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, AND THE SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980.

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