While the focus of interest in Hong Kong's telecommunications industry is very much on Hongkong Telecom's international monopoly negotiations with the Government, another small liberalisation of the sector has slipped through with little fanfare.
The Telecommunications Authority on Friday opened the way for companies other than Telecom to sell international services for fax and data traffic.
This should translate into lower prices for the customer, with rival operators looking to get into the business.
Earlier this year, Hong Kong was one of about 60 countries that signed up to a World Trade Organisation agreement on opening up telecom markets.
Hong Kong's commitment was to open by January 1 the market in virtual private network services and international simple resale (ISR) of data traffic.
Last week's ISR liberalisation gives rival operators the right to buy international line capacity and resell this to domestic customers.