Richard Li cries foul on rivals' tactics
2001-05-30
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Pacific Century CyberWorks chairman Richard Li Tzar-kai has urged the Government to take steps to eliminate what he calls unfair practices by operators that have interconnection arrangements with the firm.
Under Office of the Telecommunications Authority rules, CyberWorks is obliged to lease lines to other fixed-line operators in return for fees.
CyberWorks is unhappy other providers publicly press for more capacity from subsidiary HKT - once the monopoly provider - when it says the companies are not using the capacity they have.
In Urumqi yesterday, Mr Li said: "Wharf, New World (Telephone) and all other fixed-line operators" were unfair to CyberWorks on interconnection. Mr Li's father Li Ka-Shing is chairman of Hutchison Whampoa, which owns 50 per cent of Hutchison Global Crossing, a rival to CyberWorks in voice and data services.
Meanwhile, CyberWorks would adopt a more prudent approach on capital expenditure for equipment and technology, Mr Li said.
But he was tight-lipped on further staff cuts.
"Whether to cut or not, nothing has been decided," he said. "We need to see all the aspects before making a decision."
Mr Li said CyberWorks would try to curb its slowing revenue growth and dwindling market share by providing more and better services.
He forecast positive revenue growth within one to two years.
In addition, the firm would alter business strategy from an operational-led style to one based on customers to maintain margins and bolster its information technology capability.
CyberWorks had yet to make inroads into China, but it was providing an information-management system to one of the mainland's top three telecoms firms, Mr Li said without identifying the company.
He said there was no urgency for finding a replacement for him as chief executive until the announcement of annual results next year.
Priority for the position would be given to existing staff, Mr Li said.
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