ENG-1989 — Page 333

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

a competitive basis. Participating in the provision of competitive public telecommu- nication services are Cable and Wireless (Hong Kong) Limited, licensees of the Public Non-Exclusive Telecommunications Services (PNETS) and public radio paging services. By December 1989, there were 28 licensees of PNETS of various types and 17 licensees of public paging services.

One of the most important PNETS in Hong Kong is the public mobile radiotelephone service. In 1989, a new system conforming to the Total Access Communications System standard was brought into operation. This brings the number of licensed full cellular systems to four. As of December 1989, there were 87 000 subscribers to the public mobile radiotelephone service.

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Another telecommunication service which is very popular in Hong Kong is the public radio paging service. The number of subscribers increased to 600 000 by December 1989. On a per capita basis Hong Kong probably has the highest rate of subscription to paging services in the world. Paging services for transmitting longer messages and those using Chinese characters have been introduced and are quickly gaining popularity.

A large number of value-added services have been licensed. These include electronic mail (text-mail and voice-mail), added-value facsimile transmission services (for example, text- facsimile conversion), database access and retrieval and videotex services.

In 1988, pursuing its policy of permitting greater competition in telecommunications, the Hong Kong Government decided to allow a second telecommunication network in addition to the existing local public telephone network. This new network will be used to carry cable television services and non-franchised local telecommunication services such as data communications and facsimile. In September 1988, the government invited proposals to operate the second network as part of the invitation for proposals to operate cable television services in Hong Kong. Four proposals were received in February 1989. The government decided in August 1989 that the licence to operate the second network would be awarded to Hong Kong Cable Communications Limited which will also be granted the right to operate cable television services. It is planned that the second network will be brought into operation in 1991.

In Hong Kong, the Postmaster General is the Telecommunications Authority and administers the Telecommunication Ordinance and the Telephone Ordinance which govern the establishment and operation of all telecommunication services. The Postmaster Gen- eral acts as adviser to the government on matters concerning the development of public telecommunication services and has a place on the Broadcasting Authority.

The Telecommunications Branch of the Post Office supports the Telecommunications Authority in the execution of his functions. One of the most important functions carried out by the branch is the management of the radio spectrum to ensure that it is utilised efficiently. It also co-ordinates with the administrations of adjacent territories to share the radio spectrum without causing radio interference.

Under the Telecommunication Ordinance, the branch issues licences for all forms of radio communication in Hong Kong. It conducts examinations of radio operating personnel and issues certificates to suitably qualified persons in compliance with the International Radio Regulations. It also inspects radio and radar stations on ships to ensure compliance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

The branch provides advisory and planning services for the communication re- quirements of government departments and subvented institutions, co-ordinates and regulates the use of radio communication sites, monitors the technical performance of broadcast services and investigates complaints concerning reception quality.

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