XN000022-1992-04-01 — Page 41

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1992

THE

ALSO THE BILL CLARIFIES THE OFFENCE OF FALSE ACCOUNTING IN ORDINANCE AND THE OFFENCES OF FORGERY AND MAKING A FALSE ENTRY BANK BOOK IN THE CRIMES ORDINANCE, TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THEY APPLY TO INFORMATION STORED IN A COMPUTER.

THEFT IN

A

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

0

INTERNATIONAL CALLING CARD SERVICE TO BE EXPANDED

RESOLUTION WAS INTRODUCED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO ENABLE THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY TO EXPAND ITS INTERNATIONAL CALLING CARD SERVICE.

MOVING A MOTION UNDER THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID THE INTERNATIONAL CALLING CARD SERVICE CURRENTLY ALLOWED SUBSCRIBERS TO MAKE IDD CALLS FROM ANY DIGITAL TONE DIALLING TELEPHONE IN HONG KONG.

THE SUBSCRIBER SIMPLY DIALS A PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION

OR PIN, BEFORE MAKING THE CALL.

NUMBER,

THE CALL CHARGE AND A SERVICE SURCHARGE OF $2 PER CALL ARE THEN BILLED TO THE SUBSCRIBER'S ACCOUNT.

SHE SAID THE COMPANY'S PROPOSAL WAS TO EXPAND THE SERVICE TO ALLOW SUBSCRIBERS TO MAKE BOTH IDD CALLS AND OTHER CHARGEABLE CALLS TO HONG KONG FROM OVERSEAS USING THEIR PIN.

SHE SAID CALLS WOULD BE CHARGED AT LOCAL RATES AND WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME $2 SURCHARGE AS OUTBOUND CALLS FROM HONG KONG, ADDING THAT SUBSCRIBERS WOULD BE BILLED LOCALLY.

NOTING THAT THE SURCHARGE FOR USING THIS SERVICE WAS TO COVER THE COMPANY'S COSTS, SHE SAID: "THE ADMINISTRATION HAS EXAMINED THE BASIS FOR THE CHARGE, AND CONSIDERS IT TO BE A REASONABLE REFLECTION OF THE COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE."

UNDER SECTION 26 (1) OF THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE, THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY IS ALLOWED TO LEVY CHARGES FOR ITS SERVICES AT LEVELS WHICH DO NOT EXCEED THE LIMITS SHOWN AT THE SCHEDULE ΤΟ THE ORDINANCE.

SECTION 26(2) OF THE ORDINANCE EMPOWERS THE COUNCIL то AMEND THE SCHEDULE OF CHARGES BY RESOLUTION.

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