HK Telecom backs down from suing Government

Hongkong Telecom has decided not to sue the Government for allowing IDD call-back services in Hong Kong, which it previously said was a breach of its monopoly franchise agreement. Chief executive Linus Cheung Wing-lam yesterday said the group dropped the idea of taking legal action against the Government after concluding call back was a service that was to the benefit of the community as a whole. 'It will not be in the public interest for us to win the case,' Mr Cheung said. He said the group and the Government expected to reach an agreement by the end of this year on its monopoly franchise.