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international telecommunications services

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call-back, self-

provision of external satellite circuits, virtual private networks and mobile satellite services. These international services have been determined as falling outside Hong Kong Telecom International's (HKTI) exclusive rights; and

regulatory principles to promote competitive supply of telecommunications services.

The third part of the question relates to the negotiations and the exclusive right to operate certain international telecommunications services which has been granted to HKTI until September 30, 2006. Hong Kong's offer on basic telecommunications is not in conflict with HKTI's licence. Since we will only be bound to liberalise our basic telecommunications market to the extent of our offer, there will be no conflict with any rule of the WTO in maintaining HKTT's exclusivities to September 30, 2006. Our position regarding HKTI's licence is that we will honour it. We will continue to look out for opportunities to open up for competition those services which fall outside the exclusive right of the licence. We have no plans unilaterally to terminate the licence early.

Maintenance of law and order important

Following is a question by the Hon Ip Kwok-him and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

A series of violent incidents have occurred in the territory recently. Apart from the riot caused by Vietnamese migrants in the Whitehead Detention Centre, there was the brutal attack on a veteran journalist. In addition, threats were made to certain Members of this Council against the opening of their offices and the placards publicising the opening were criminally damaged. There were also reports that at a District Board meeting, a member openly threatened to beat up Government officials. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether measures have been adopted to halt the spread of such a phenomenon and to uphold the morale of law enforcement officers?