China Mobile Announces Tarriff CutsChina Mobile (Hong Kong) Ltd. on Wednesday announced a reduction in its digital transmission lines leasing fees and domestic and long-distance calling charges.The company, China's largest listed mobile communications operator, said in a statement that it will also reduce charges of international and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan long distance calls, cancel the mobile services surcharge of Zhejiang Mobile, Jiangsu Mobile and Henan Mobile. International call charges will fall by more than 50 percent to 0.80 yuan (under 10 US cents) for six seconds. Calls to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan will have a flat rate of 0.20 yuan for six seconds. And charges for domestic long-distance calls will be fixed at 0.07 yuan for six seconds. China Mobile estimates that its tarriff adjustments, which are expected to take effect from January 1, 2000, will lead to a 5.4 percent fall in its pretax profit for the half year to June of some 942 million yuan (US$114.9 million) compared to the first half result this year of 17.38 billion yuan (US$2.12 billion). China Mobile closed the day up 10 cents to 42.00 Hong Kong dollars at the Hong Kong stocks market since the company and market players said the company might benefit in the long run from increased traffic. |
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