The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo do Rosário, speaks to reporters.
The Government has been discussing with the Legislative Assembly revisions to the Concession Agreement of the Public Telecommunications Service, in order to deliver better services to the public. The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo do Rosário, attended on Tuesday (28 June) a meeting at the Legislative Assembly to discuss revisions to the Concession Agreement of the Public Telecommunications Service, and possible conditions attached to any renewal. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Rosário said the Government had not yet made a decision on the auto-renewal of a concession currently held by Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau (CTM). The Government can decide not to renew – for a further five-year term – the existing Concession Agreement on the grounds of harm to the public interest, if the company has committed a serious violation of the existing Concession Agreement. In that case, the company is not entitled to any compensation. If the Government decides not to renew – for a further five-year term – the existing Concession Agreement on the grounds of "imperative reasons of overriding public interest”, then the Government might need to pay compensation to the company, under the terms of the Concession Agreement. Such compensation would be equivalent to 2.5 times the company’s average earnings – before tax – over the past three years, said the Secretary. Macao’s fixed-network and external telecommunications services are currently operated by Companhia de Telecomunicacoes de Macau (CTM) under a concession contract. In November 2009, the Government and CTM signed a revised concession contract on public telecommunications services, regarding the early opening-up of local and international network rental services, and transit services. This contract will expire after 31 December 2016.