XN000022-1985-03-13 — Page 22

WIDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1985

MR JACOBS SAID THESE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES HAD BEEN APPLIED IN DETERMINING THE LEVE OF CHARGES SET OUT IN THE RESOLUTION, WHICH SOUGHT TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE TO THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE BY ADDING AFTER PART V!' A NEW PART VIII.

THIS NEW PART CONTAINED THE PARTICULARS AND AMOUNTS OF INTERCONNECTION CHARGES BETWEEN THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK AND PUBLIC MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONE SERVICES, HE SAID.

MR JACOBS NOTED THAT THE USAGE CHARGE AMOUNTED TO SEVEN CENTS A MINUTE.

IN NOVEMBER 1982, CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY LIMITED, INCLUDING PUBLIC MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONE SERVICES, WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE COMPANY'S SCHEME OF CONTROL.

AMONG THE CONDITIONS IMPOSED ON THAT OCCASION WAS ONE REQUIRING THE TELEPHONE COMPANY TO PROVIDE A CONNECTION FOR THESE DEREGULATED SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC TELEPHONE NETWORK, SUBJECT TO A FEE OR CHARGE TO COVER THE COST AND THE TELEPHONE COMPANY'S PERMITTED RETURN.

FOLLOWING DEREGULATION, MR JACOBS SAID, LICENCES FOR OPERATING PUBLIC MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONE SERVICES WERE GRANTED TO COMMUNICATION SERVICES LIMITED, HUTCHISON RADIO TELEPHONE LIMITED, AND CHINA TELECOM SYSTEMS LIMITED.

MR JACOBS SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PUBLIC MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONE SERVICE WAS NEW TO HONG KONG, IT WAS DESIRABLE THAT A REVIEW OF CHARGES SHOULD BE CONDUCTED 12 MONTHS AFTER THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE THREE LICENSES HAD COME INTO OPERATION.

PLAN TO REVIEW CHARGES WELCOMED ******

GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO CONDUCT A REVIEW ON THE PRICING STRUCTURE OF THE PUBLIC MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONE INTERCONNECTION CHARGES ONE YEAR AFTER THE SERVICE HAS COME INTO OPERATION WAS WELCOMED BY LEGCO UNOFFICIALS.

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION ON THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE HON ALLEN LEE SAID THAT AFTER DETAILED DELIBERATIONS, THE UNOFFICIALS WERE GENERALLY SATISFIED THAT THE PRINCIPLES APPLIED IN DETERMINING THE PRICING STRUCTURE WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES ON CHARGES LEVIED BY UTILITIES.

/+NE ARE,