XN000022-1991-03-12 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1991

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EFFICIENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS BACKS HONG KONG'S SUCCESS: GOVERNOR

A MEASURE OF HONG KONG'S SUCCESS IS THE GROWING VOLUME OF REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRAFFIC WHICH IS ROUTED THROUGH THE TERRITORY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON SAID IN HANNOVER, GERMANY ON TUESDAY (MARCH 12).

THE GOVERNOR WAS ADDRESSING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF CEBIT 1991 WHICH IS REGARDED AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT FAIR FOR OFFICE EQUIPMENT, DATA PROCESSING, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY.

AND

SIR DAVID TOLD THE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING GERMANY'S OFFICIALS TOP BUSINESS EXECUTIVES FROM EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA AND ASIA THAT HONG KONG'S COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENT WAS SUCH THAT THERE WAS A PREMIUM ON INFORMATION AND ON THE ABILITY TO EITHER PASS IT ON, OR ACT ON FASTER THAN THE COMPETITION.

HONG KONG HAD BECOME THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE FOR THE HE SAID, A DEVELOPMENT THAT HAD BEEN LED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

"IN COMMON WITH OTHER UTILITIES, TELECOMMUNICATIONS KONG ARE COMPLETELY IN THE HANDS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

"AS A RESULT THEY ARE HIGHLY EFFICIENT, ADVANCED AND CHEAPER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

IT.

REGION,

IN HONG

TECHNOLOGICALLY

"THE LAUNCHING LAST YEAR OF ASIASAT, FINANCED BY A HONG KONG CONSORTIUM, IS ONLY THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF WHAT UNFETTERED PRIVATE INITIATIVE CAN ACHIEVE," HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR SAID HONG KONG WAS LINKED TO THE WORLD BY RADIO, CABLE AND SATELLITE AND BUSINESSMEN COULD COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR HEAD OFFICES DIRECT BY TELEPHONE, TELEX, FAX OR EVEN PRIVATELY-RENTED DEDICATED NETWORKS.

THE

** THUS THE FOREIGN BUSINESSMAN SETTING UP IN HONG KONG FOR FIRST TIME NEED DO LITTLE MORE THAN PLUG A CABLE INTO A WALL SOCKET, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

ri

HE POINTED OUT THAT TELEX TRAFFIC PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG INCREASED BY ALMOST ONE THIRD LAST YEAR AND MUCH OF THIS INVOLVED TELECOMMUNICATIONS WITH SOUTHERN CHINA.

** FOR SOUTHERN CHINA, HONG KONG IS THE MAIN OUTLET OUTSIDE WORLD.

"THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT. THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE OF SOUTHERN CHINA, AND HONG KONG'S CLOSE CONNECTION WITH THE IS ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS IN HONG KONG'S RECENT SUCCESS PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE," THE GOVERNOR SAID.

TO THE

AND

ECONOMY PROCESS, ITS

/THE GOVERNOR