A DECISION on whether to end the Towngas monopoly on the supply of gas would be made after a Consumer Council study due to be released in February, Secretary for Trade and Industry Brian Chau Tak-hay said. Legislator Jimmy McGregor said Towngas had a privileged position in the market and this hampered the chance of entry by potential competitors. Dr Huang Chen-ya said the phenomenon was more apparent in public housing estates where homes had to take Towngas. Four other reports are scheduled to be published next year with the sole purpose of evaluating the state of competition in some of the major business sectors including broadcasting, telecommunications and the property market.
