XN000022-1993-04-29 — Page 4

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1993

MOREOVER, IT MUST HAVE CREDIBILITY IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC, LEGISLATORS AND DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN OPERATORS AS A FAIR AND UNBIASED REFEREE OF THE INDUSTRY AND AS A RELIABLE DEFENDER OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST, MR SIU SAID.

REVIEWING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF HONG KONG'S NEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY INITIATIVES OVER THE PAST 10 MONTHS, MR SIU SAID AMENDMENTS TO THE TELEPHONE AND TELECOMMUNICATION ORDINANCES WERE INTRODUCED ΤΟ THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST YEAR AND WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION IN COMMITTEE.

IN ADDITION ΤΟ PAVING THE WAY FOR PRICE CAPPING AND THE ATTENDANT IDD REDUCTIONS, THE LEGISLATION ALSO PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION FOR THE EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTION OF COMPETITION TO THE HONG KONG FIXED NETWORK MARKET, HE SAID.

"ANOTHER ISSUE WE ARE PROGRESSING IS THE INTRODUCTION OF NETWORK COMPETITION, MR SIU SAID.

**

ON FEBRUARY 1, THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS, THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY HAD RECEIVED SEVEN PROPOSALS, REFLECTING A GOOD MIX OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS INTEREST.

THESE APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING EVALUATED. THEY HAVE THROWN UP A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT POLICY ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION, AMONG THEM:

* HOW CUSTOMER ACCESS SHOULD BE FACILITATED;

* THE QUESTION OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESALE OF

LEASED CIRCUIT CAPACITY;

* NUMBERING ALLOCATION ISSUES;

* THE REGULATORY SAFEGUARDS то BE APPLIED TO THE INCUMBENT OPERATOR, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD ΤΟ IT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MONOPOLY INTERNATIONAL OPERATOR.

"HONG KONG TODAY STANDS AS A KEY TELECOMMUNICATIONS CENTRE. REALISE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO WORK HARD TO MAINTAIN THIS POSITION, 申中 SAID.

SIU SAID HONG KONG'S

PRESENT AND

WE

HE

MR

PROSPECTIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS PLAN INFRASTRUCTURAL INVESTMENT OF SOME $60 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

"THIS IS A POWERFUL VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR POLICIES AND HONG KONG.

IN

"THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUEPRINT WE HAVE SET OUT FOR THE INDUSTRY LIES AT THE HEART OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.

THE

"WE ARE CREATING THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT. IT IS NOW UP ΤΟ INDUSTRY TO SEIZE THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND PUT THEM TO WORK, tr HE SAID.

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