The Government yesterday delayed opening Hong Kong's telecommunications sector to full competition until at least 2003 but offered a series of measures to further liberalise the international market.
Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting Kwong Ki-chi said the Government would not be issuing any more fixed-line licences for three years but would fully liberalise the external facilities sector.
The announcement ends five months of uncertainty after an original Government deadline for detailing its policy expired on January 1.
As a result of the decision, Hong Kong's fixed-line market will remain controlled by four companies - Hongkong Telecom, New T&T, New World Telephone and Hutchison Telecom.
Multinational telecoms companies including US giant MCI WorldCom expressed interest in investing up to $2 billion over 10 years in the SAR's fixed-line market if the Government removed the regulatory hurdles preventing entry.
Local operator CTI had also said it would apply for a licence to build a fixed-line network.