Opening Up of Operator-Assisted Phone Connections Between the Two Sides of the Taiwan Straits Will Be Postponed

The Directorate General of Telecommunications (DGT) of the Ministry of Communications, since opening up direct telephone calls to the mainland via the United States or Japan, has handled more than 4,000 calls per day, with the highest number going to Peking, Shanghai, and Canton. Direct dial service is going well. However, because the departments for transferring phone calls have not gotten smooth results from the intermediate areas, the opening of operator-assisted services will be postponed.

The DGT notes that the service was to open at the end of June. The International Telecommunications Administration has separately discussed the issue with communications organs in the United States, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, but things are not as smooth as expected. The U.S. and Japan have refused to accept the job because they lack Chinese language operators and because the investment is too large. Singapore is also unwilling because of the large investment. It is hoped that the Hong Kong Cable and Wireless company will continue to act as intermediary, but there has been no certain response. The DGT is actively trying to resolve the problem, and will open operator-assisted services as soon as there is agreement from the communications authorities in a third area.