THE new head of the Government's telecommunications body said that companies wanting to compete with Hongkong Telecom on local calls would not get approval in June, the original deadline, and may have to wait until Christmas.
At least two other policy issues are moving slower than expected - all benefiting Hongkong Telecom, say rivals who claim they will be able to offer a better service and perhaps lower rental charges than the $56 a month charged by Hongkong Telecom.
Mr Alex Arena, of the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, yesterday told a conference on deregulation organised by the Institute of International Research that the original schedule ''proved to be somewhat ambitious''.
The delay meant a ''smaller market window'', said Mr Vince Lam Tin-yan, vice-president for planning for Wharf Communications Investments. ''Hongkong Telecom will be even better prepared.'' The Government received seven submissions in February. Hongkong Telecom's monopoly on basic ''voice service'' expires on July 1, 1995, but bidders may be allowed to operate data and fax services, which can be more lucrative, straight after they get a licence.
Wharf, the sole bidder for a cable TV licence, has teamed up with NYNEX of the US in an attempt to operate telephone services over its TV network. It is one of the seven bidders.
Mr Arena acknowledged that would-be competitors were keen to start investments, which in Wharf's case would amount to $6 billion.