XN000022-1983-08-10 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1983

CHARGE ON PABX USERS EXPLAINED

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THE TELEPHONE COMPANY PROPOSED CHARGING THE USER OF PRIVATE AUTOMATIC BRANCH EXCHANGE (PABX) EQUIPMENT FOR AN ABORTIVE VISIT IF A REPORTED FAULT LAY WITH THE EQUIPMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON K.Y. YEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE MOTION, MR YEUNG SAID THE PROPOSED CHARGES WOULD APPLY EQUALLY IN RESPECT OF OTHER TYPES OF EQUIPMENT WHICH WOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS AND CONNECTED TO THE TELEPHONE NETWORK.

AS OF JULY 1 THIS YEAR, THE TELEPHONE COMPANY CEASED PROVIDING PABX'S AS THIS AREA OF ITS ACTIVITIES HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM ITS SCHEME OF CONTROL ON THAT DATE.

CONSEQUENTLY, PABX SUPPLIERS COULD NOW OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE TELEPHONE COMPANY TO CONNECT THEIR EQUIPMENT TO THE TELEPHONE NETWORK, BUT MAINTENANCE OF THE EQUIPMENT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SUPPLIER OR THE USER, AND NOT THE TELEPHONE COMPANY, MR YEUNG EXPLAINED.

WHEN FAULTS ARE REPORTED TO THE TELEPHONE COMPANY BY PABX USERS, THE COMPANY WILL ARRANGE TO TEST THE LINES TO THE PABX IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR STANDARD TELEPHONE LINE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES.

+IF A FAULT PROVES TO BE A LINE FAULT, IT WILL BE THE COMPANY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO RECTIFY IT. HOWEVER, IF THE FAULT LIES WITH THE EQUIPMENT, THE TELEPHONE COMPANY PROPOSE TO LEVY A CHARGE ON THE PABX USER FOR THE ABORTIVE VISIT.

+THE PROPOSED CHARGE WILL APPLY EQUALLY IN RESPECT OF OTHER TYPES OF EQUIPMENT WHICH, IN THE FUTURE, WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS AND CONNECTED TO THE TELEPHONE NETWORK.

+FOR SUCH VISITS, THE TELEPHONE COMPANY HAVE PROPOSED TWO LEVELS OF STANDARD CHARGE BASED ON AVERAGE MAN-HOURS PER VISIT.

*THE CHARGE PER VISIT OUTSIDE NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS IS JUST OVER TWICE THAT FOR A VISIT DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS AS IT INVOLVES BOTH CALLING OUT STAFF FROM PLACES OTHER THAN THEIR NORMAL PLACE OF WORK AND OVERTIME PAYMENTS, MR YEUNG EXPLAINED.

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAD EXAMINED THESE CHARGES AND CONSIDERED THEM REASONABLE, HE SAID.

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