XN000022-1990-12-06 — Page 6

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"WE ARE NOW STUDYING SEVERAL SERVICE PROPOSALS AND ARE LIKELY TO LICENSE BETWEEN TWO AND FOUR TELEPOINT OPERATORS IN EARLY 1991," HE SAID.

MR WONG ALSO SAID THAT BARRING UNFORESEEN TECHNOLOGICAL SETBACKS, DIGITAL CELLULAR SERVICES WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN RONG KONG AS FROM 1992.

CONCERNING PERSONAL COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (PCNS), MR WONG SAID HONG KONG WERE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON PROGRESS AND THE ISSUES INVOLVED BEFORE A DECISION WAS TAKEN ON THE INTRODUCTION OF PCNS.

"WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DISCUSSING TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE GOVERNMENTS OF JAPAN, THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ON THE USE OF INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LEASED CIRCUITS ΤΟ CARRY VALUE-ADDED NETWORK SERVICES.

"THE ARRANGEMENTS EVENTUALLY MADE WILL HELP TO MAKE AVAILABLE MORE INNOVATIVE AND CHEAPER SERVICES FOR BUSINESS USERS IN COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR OVERSEAS TRADING PARTNERS, MR WONG SAID.

"T

MR WONG ALSO SAID THE YEAR 1997 DID NOT HAVE ANY PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANNING OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS OR OTHER INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS IN HONG KONG.

"THAT YEAR HAS NO MORE SIGNIFICANCE THAN ANY OTHER YEAR IN THE NEXT DECADE AND WILL NOT AFFECT THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG.

"INDEED, SEVERAL LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS REPRESENTING SUBSTANTIAL PRIVATE INVESTMENTS UNDERTAKEN BY INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIA HAVE LIFE SPANS EXTENDING WELL BEYOND 1997," MR WONG SAID.

MR WONG SAID THE STYLE OF ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997 WOULD ALSO REMAIN MUCH THE SAME AS AT PRESENT.

HE SAID IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW, HONG KONG WOULD CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN ITS VOICE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE APPROPRIATE FIELDS, AND TO CONCLUDE AND IMPLEMENT ITS OWN AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS.

HONG KONG WOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO BE AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC TELECOMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION.

"WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT, AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR FUTURE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.

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"IT REMAINS OUR STRONG AIM TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S POSITION ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL FINANCIAL, INDUSTRIAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS CENTRES IN THE WORLD, MR WONG SAID.

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