XN000022-1992-12-16 — Page 30

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1992

HE THEN WENT TO CHRUNG HANG ESTATE, THE LATEST PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON THE TSING Y! ISLAND, WHERE HE CHATTED TO SENIOR CITIZENS AT A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THF ELDERLY RUN BY THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLFANCE.

ON JILS WAY TO THE CENTRE, MR PATTEN ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO BROWSE IN SHOPS IN CHEUNG HANG COMMERCIAL COMPLEX.

BOARD

BEFORE CONCLUDING HIS VISIT MR PATTEN MET WITH DISTRICT

+ MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AT A RECEPTION AT THE METRO PLAZA TN KWAI PONG.

MR PATTEN WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ALBERT LAM: AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS AGNES ALLCOCK.

ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY

*

THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DECIDED THAT THE INCREASING SCOPE COMPLEXITY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION JUSTIFIED ESTABLISHMENT OF A SEPARATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, THE SECRETARY ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AND THE

FOR

THE NEW DEPARTMENT WILL BE CALLED THE OFFICE OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY (OFTA).

SHE- SAID: "THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAS HITHERTO UNDERTAKEN SIMULTANEOUSLY THE DUTIES OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY AND HEAD THE POSTAL SERVICE WITH DEDICATION AND DISTINCTION.

OF

"HOWEVER, THE RAPID EXPANSION OF SERVICES IN RECENT YEARS AND OUR POLICY OF LIBERALISATION HAVE NOT ONLY LED ΤΟ A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN WORKLOAD BUT WILL ALSO REQUIRE THE REGULATOR TO TAKE ON NEW POWERS IN RELATION TO NETWORK INTERCONNECTION, TELEPHONE NUMBERING AND PRICE CONTROL.

"IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE ENSURE THAT OUR REGULATORY STRUCTURE IS APPROPRIATE TO THESE NEW CHALLENGES. 甲申

SHE ADDED THAT SUBJECT TO FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVAL, OFTA WOULD BE A NEW DEPARTMENT IN THE GOVERNMENT.

THE

ALL THE CURRENT STAFF OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BRANCH OF POST OFFICE WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THIS NEW DEPARTMENT AND WOULD REMAIN ON CIVIL SERVICE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, SHE SAID.

"OUR PROPOSALS WILL REQUIRE THE CREATION OF A NEW POST FOR THE HEAD OF OFTA WHO WILL BE APPOINTED TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY.

"WE WILL ALSO BE SEEKING TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION.

ADDITIONAL

RESOURCES

FOR

/"OUR PROPOSALS

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