XN000022-1996-09-18 — Page 3

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As for universal service, he said, the Government agreed that all fixed network operators should be allowed to compete to provide universal service and intended to do so in the medium-term future when network rollout of the new fixed network operators became mature.

"On quality of service, the TA, as suggested by the Consumer Council, will consider issuing a guideline to fixed network operators on what to include in their customer charters," he said.

Noting the Consumer Council's call for an early introduction of a comprehensive Telecommunication Ordinance to more clearly define TA's policy objectives, responsibilities and other related issues, Mr Ip said this would be addressed by a bill to amend the Telecommunication Ordinance in the 1996-97 legislative year.

However, he said, the Government did not consider it necessary to set up a statutory advisory board to tender advice to the TA on key telecommunications issues.

"The existing consultative mechanisms are working well and have a high degree of transparency: the TA is served by four advisory committees on telecommunications issues; public consultations are conducted on important issues; and the Legislative Council and its Economic Services Panel are also consulted on important telecommunications issues," Mr Ip said.

On the Consumer Council's proposal for the creation of a Secretary for Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Communications Technology, Mr Ip said: "This recommendation has already been considered in the context of Government Response to the Consumer Council Report on Broadcasting.

"We consider it unnecessary to combine policy responsibilities of broadcasting and telecommunications. But we are prepared to review this in the light of technological development and the review on broadcasting scheduled for 1998."

He added that the Government also could not support in full the technical proposal to give statutory force to OFTA's guidelines for property owners, developers and managers for the provision of facilities within property developments for access to public telecommunications and broadcasting services as there were no such access requirements for other utilities.

"As an alternative, OFTA is now working with the Buildings Department to look into the possibility of incorporating telecommunications access requirements into the code of practice for architects and authorised persons," he said.

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