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End

(b)

29

It remains the position that the Curriculum Development Council has no plan in the immediate future to make substantial changes to the syllabuses of the four Sixth Form Mathematics Subjects. The Council might propose minor changes in its regular reviews but these will not affect the suitability of the textbooks concerned for use by students. Thus, the question of withholding the amount earmarked does not arise.

Policy on monitoring public utilities

Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li Wah-ming and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Leo Kwan, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

With regard to the Government's policy on the monitoring of public utilities, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

of the criteria adopted by the Government for determining whether a public utility company has monopolised the market;

what measures the Government will take to safeguard the consumers' rights in the event of a public utility company monopolising the market; and

whether the Government will only monitor those public utility companies operating on a franchise basis?

Reply:

(a)

In general, the following characteristics of the market structure will be considered in deciding whether a public utility company has attained a monopolistic position in a certain market - the degree of market concentration, economies of scale, barrier to entry, pricing behaviour, and availability of close substitutes for the product;

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