1934 Act Registration No. 1-15028

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the Month of August, 2003

 

China Unicom Limited

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

No. 133A, Xidan North Street
Xicheng District
Beijing, China 100032

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form  40-F.)

 

Form 20-F  ý

 

Form 40-F  o

 

(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K on paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  o.)

 

(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K on paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  o.)

 

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

 

Yes  o

 

No  ý

 

(If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):82-         .)

 

 



 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit Number

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

 

Interim Results Announcement Summary of 2003 of China Unicom Limited, dated 28 August 2003.

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

1.2

 

Interim Results Announcement of 2003 of China Unicom Limited, dated 28 August 2003.

 

6

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The Annual Report of the Company, constituting Exhibits 1.2 to this Form 6-K, contain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties.  Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s operating strategy and future plans; its future business condition and financial results; its abilities to expand network capacity and increase network efficiency; its ability to develop new technology applications and offer new services; the execution of its CDMA related strategy; the Company’s ability to leverage its position as an integrated telecommunications operator and expand into new business and new markets; future growth of market demand for the Company’s services; and future regulatory and other developments in the Chinese telecommunications industry.

 

Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events. Actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without limitation, any changes in the regulatory policies of the Ministry of Information Industry and other relevant government authorities; the effects of competition on the demand and price of the Company’s telecommunications services; any changes in telecommunications and related technology and applications based on such technology; and changes in political, economic, legal and social conditions in China including the Chinese government’s policies with respect to economic growth, foreign exchange, foreign investment and entry by foreign companies into China’s telecommunications market. Please also see the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 20-F, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

CHINA UNICOM LIMITED

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

Date:  28 August 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lo Wing Yan, William

 

 

 

Lo Wing Yan, William

 

 

Executive Director

 

3



 

To:                              Listing Division of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

E-Business & Information Services Department of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

 

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1)                     IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THE NOTES ATTACHED TO THIS FORM. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT ABOUT THIS FORM, YOU SHOULD CONSULT THE EXCHANGE OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISER IMMEDIATELY.

2)                     PLEASE ENSURE ACCURACY WHEN COMPLETING THIS FORM AS INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM WILL BE RELEASED ON THE TELETEXT SYSTEM UPON RECEIPT.

3)                     ALL SUBSEQUENT CHANGES TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS FORM, IN PARTICULAR THE BOOK CLOSING DATES, MUST BE NOTIFIED TO THE LISTING DIVISION BY TELEPHONE AND FOLLOWED BY A WRITTEN CONFIRMATION IMMEDIATELY.

 

From:

China Unicom Limited

No.of pages:

2

 

(Name of Company/Representative Company)

 

 

Yee Foo Hei

 

21213220

 

28 August 2003

 

(Responsible Official)

(Contact Telephone Number)

 

Date

 

Name of listed company:

China Unicom Limited

Year end date:

31/12/2003

Change of any figures reported in the Results Announcement Form submitted previously for the Last Corresponding Period?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ý

Yes

 

o

No

Currency:

RMB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be published in the newspapers
(if applicable)

 

Auditors’ Report

o

Qualified

o

Modified

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

o

Unqualified

ý

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ý

Summarised results announcement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

o

Full results announcement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review of interim report (if applicable) by

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ý

Audit committee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ý

Auditors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

o

Neither of the above

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Current Period
from 1/1/2003 to
6/30/2003

 

(Unaudited)
Last Corresponding
Period from 1/1/2002
to 6/30/2002

 

 

(‘000)

 

(‘000)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turnover (Note I)

:

13,967,244

 

17,990,844

 

 

 

 

 

Profit from Operations (Note 1)

:

4,373,039

 

3,744,245

 

 

 

 

 

Finance cost

:

(1,019,344)

 

(761,267)

 

 

 

 

 

Share of Profit/(Loss) of Associates

:

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

Share of Profit/(Loss) of Jointly Controlled Entities

:

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

Profit after Taxation & MI (Note 3)

:

2,385,273

 

2,136,755

 

 

 

 

 

% Change over Last Period

:

11.6 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EPS

– Basic (Note 2)

:

0.190

 

RMB0.170

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Diluted

:

0.190

 

RMB0.170

 

 

 

 

 

Extraordinary (“ETD”) Gain/(Loss)

:

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

Profit after ETD Items (Note 3)

:

2,385,273

 

2,136,755

 

 

 

 

 

Interim Dividend per Share

:

Nil

 

Nil

 

 

 

 

 

(specify if with other options)

:

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

B/C Dates for Interim Dividend

:

N/A

to

N/A

bdi.

 

 

 

 

 

Payable Date

:

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B/C Dates for (  —  ) General Meeting

:

N/A

to

N/A

bdi.

 

 

 

 

 

Other Distribution for Current Period

:

N/A

 

 

 

B/C Dates for Other Distribution

:

N/A

to

 

bdi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A description or an explanatory note

 

 

 

 

(Note IV)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For and on behalf of

 

 

 

 

China Unicom Limited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature

:

/s/ Yee Foo Hei

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

:

Yee Foo Hei

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title

:

Company Secretary

 

4



 

China Unicom Limited

2003 Interim Press Announcement

 

Remarks:

 

(1)                                 Profit from operations

 

Profit from operations is arrived at by adding back the finance costs to the profit before taxation and is shown below:

 

 

 

For the six months
ended 30 June 2003

 

For the six months
ended 30 June 2002

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit before taxation

 

3,353,695

 

2,982,978

 

Finance costs

 

1,019,344

 

761,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit from operations

 

4,373,039

 

3,744,245

 

 

(2)                                 Earnings per share

 

Basic earnings per share for the six months ended 30 June 2003 and 2002 were computed by dividing the profit attributable to shareholders of approximately RMB2,385,273,000 and RMB2,136,755,000 (restated) respectively, by the weighted average number of 12,552,996,070 ordinary shares in issue during the periods.

 

Diluted earnings per share for the six months ended 30 June 2003 and 2002 were computed by dividing the profit attributable to shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period, after adjusting for the effects of the dilutive potential ordinary shares. All potential dilutive shares arose from share options granted under (i) the amended Pre-Global Offering Share Option Scheme; and (ii) the amended Share Option Scheme. There was no dilution of earnings per share for both periods after taking into account the dilutive effect of the share options.

 

(3)                                 Adoption of new accounting policy

 

The accounting policies and methods of computation used in the preparation of the interim financial accounts are consistent with those used in the annual reports for the year ended 31 December 2002 except the Group has changed its accounting policy following the adoption of Hong Kong Statement of Standard Accounting Practice (“SSAP”) 12 “Income Taxes” issued by the Hong Kong Society of Accountants which is effective for accounting period commencing from 1 January 2003. The adoption of the new SSAP 12 in 2003 represents a change in accounting policy which has been applied retrospectively so that the comparatives presented have been restated to conform to the changed policy. As a result, the profit and earnings per share for the six months ended 30 June 2002 have been reduced by approximately RMB114,775,000 and RMB0.009 respectively.

 

5



 

 

CHINA UNICOM LIMITED

(Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability under Companies Ordinance)

 

2003 INTERIM RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Highlights:

Total revenue of RMB31.97 billion, up 77.7% compared with the same period last year

Number of cellular subscribers increased to 69.641 million subscribers, up by an addition of 9.931 million subscribers compared with the end of 2002

Revenue of cellular business of RMB28.36 billion, up 106.0% compared with the same period last year

EBITDA of RMB12.46 billion, up 41.8% compared with the same period last year

Operating profit reached RMB 4.28 billion, up 24.5% compared with the same period last year

Net profit rose to RMB 2.39 billion, up 11.6% compared with the same period last year

Earnings per share of RMB 0.190, up 11.6% compared with the same period last year

 

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

 

I am pleased to report the operating and financial results of China Unicom Limited (referred to as the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the “Group”) for the first six months of 2003.

 

I.                         Financial Overview

 

The Group is pleased with its financial performance in the first half of 2003. Total operating revenue for the period was RMB 31.97 billion, up 77.7% from the same period last year, of which service revenue was RMB 30.65 billion, an increase of 80.8% as compared with the same period last year. Revenue from the cellular business amounted to RMB 28.36 billion, an increase of 106.0% over the same period last year while its share in the total revenue increased to 88.7% compared with 76.5% for the same period last year. With regard to the revenue derived from the cellular business, revenue from GSM cellular service amounted to RMB 20.52 billion, an increase of 54.1% over the same period last year; revenue from CDMA cellular service totaled RMB 7.84 billion, an increase of 16.3 times over the same period last year. Revenue from long distance, data and Internet businesses reached RMB 2.68 billion, up 10.4% compared with the same period last year and its share in the total revenue decreased from 13.5% for the same period last year to 8.4%. Revenue from wireless paging business declined 48.2% to RMB 0.93 billion, while its share in the total revenue fell from 10.0% for the same period last year to 2.9%.

 

In the first six months of 2003, the Group’s EBITDA reached RMB 12.46 billion, up 41.8% over the same period last year. EBITDA margin dropped from 48.8% for the same period last year to 39.0%, of which EBITDA for GSM cellular service was RMB 11.5 billion, up 55.6% over the same period last year and EBITDA margin rose from 55.5% of the same period last year to 56.0%. Operating profit reached RMB 4.28 billion, up 24.5% over the same period last year. Profit before taxation was RMB 3.35 billion, up 12.4% over the same period last year. Profit before taxation from GSM cellular service was RMB 4.01 billion; profit before taxation from the long distance, data and Internet businesses was RMB 0.84 billion; loss before taxation from wireless paging business was RMB 0.89 billion (which includes of RMB 0.56 billion provision for impairment loss and loss on disposal of wireless paging assets); loss before taxation from CDMA cellular service was RMB 0.59 billion. After making provision of RMB 0.56 billion for the impairment loss and loss on disposal of wireless paging business assets, net profit was RMB 2.39 billion, rose 11.6% compared with the same period last year. Earnings per share was RMB 0.190, up 11.6% compared with the same period last year.

 

In the first six months of 2003, the Group’s capital expenditure was RMB 8.14 billion. The Group has continued to maintain a solid and healthy balance sheet. Total assets reached RMB 141.2 billion and debt to capitalization ratio fell from 44.6% as at the end of the previous year to 41.0%.

 

On December 31, 2002, the Company completed its acquisition of Unicom New Century (BVI) Limited. On a pro forma combined basis, the Group’s total revenue for the first half of 2003 increased 46.2% from the same period last year; EBITDA increased by 14.8% over the same period last year, of which EBITDA for the GSM cellular business increased 18.6% from the same period last year; net profit increased by 5.1% from the same period last year.

 

6



 

II.                     Business Development

 

During the first six months of 2003, faced with intensifying market competition and the challenges posed by the SARS outbreak, the Company continued to achieve satisfactory development in its businesses, through the establishment of a high quality networks, and the strengthening of sales and marketing and customer service in accordance with the Company’s development strategies.

 

1.                      Continuation of the coordinated development of the GSM and CDMA businesses, preliminary success with the transformation of the sales model for the CDMA business and the accelerated introduction of new businesses helped maintain the rapid development of the cellular business.

 

During the first six months of 2003, subscriber growth for both networks remained steady. The Group recorded a net addition of 9.931 million GSM and CDMA cellular subscribers. As of June 30, 2003, the Group had a total of 69.641 million GSM and CDMA cellular subscribers. The Group’s market share in its service areas increased from 33.1% at the end of 2002 to 34.2% and its share of the new subscriber additions market was 41.5%.

 

As of June 30, 2003, on a pro forma combined basis, the total number of GSM cellular subscribers was 59.663 million, representing an increase of 6.198 million from 53.465 million at the end of 2002, of which post-paid subscribers accounted for 31.654 million; pre-paid subscribers accounted for 28.009 million and the proportion of pre-paid subscribers to the total number of subscribers rose from 44.4% at the end of 2002 to 46.9%. Following the increase in the number of subscribers, total usage volume for GSM cellular subscribers reached 57.45 billion minutes, representing a 40.1% increase from the same period last year. For the first six months of 2003, the average minutes of usage per user per month (“MOU”) for GSM services was 168.7 minutes, up 3.2 minutes from 165.5 minutes in 2002, of which, the MOU for post-paid subscribers was 221.6 minutes, whilst the MOU for pre-paid subscribers was 106.1 minutes. Average revenue per user per month (“ARPU”) was RMB 58.9, representing a decline of RMB 8.4 from RMB 67.3 in 2002. ARPU for post-paid subscribers was RMB 68.4, whilst ARPU for pre-paid subscribers was RMB 47.6.

 

As of June 30, 2003, on a pro forma combined basis, the number of CDMA cellular subscribers was 9.978 million, representing an increase of 3.733 million subscribers from 6.245 million subscribers at the end of 2002. Total usage volume for CDMA subscribers reached 16.94 billion minutes, representing an increase of 17 times over the same period last year. For the first six months of 2003, the MOU for CDMA services was 349.5 minutes, up 21.4 minutes from 328.1 minutes in 2002. ARPU was RMB 148.7, representing a decline of RMB 23.5 from RMB 172.2 in 2002.

 

Uniformly branded as “U-Max”, the Company introduced various wireless data services on its CDMA 1X technology, namely “U-Info”, “U-Mail”, “U-Net”, “U-Magic” and “U-Map”. The Company also offered SMS service for subscribers under the brand name “UNI-INFO”. Short voice message service was also launched. For the first six months of 2003, the usage volume of SMS from GSM and CDMA cellular subscribers reached 11.70 billion messages. Incoming SMS received by GSM and CDMA subscribers from other operators reached 2.68 billion messages. As of June 30, 2003, over 600,000 subscribers were using CDMA 1X data services.

 

2.                      International and domestic long distance, data and Internet businesses developed rapidly

 

In the first six months of 2003, total minutes of outgoing international and domestic long distance calls reached 8.68 billion minutes, up 52.0% from the same period last year. Market share increased from 11.6% at the end of 2002 to 13.2%. The total minutes of PSTN outgoing long distance calls accounted for 3.39 billion minutes, representing an increase of 16.5% from the same period of last year. Market share increased from 11.5% to 12.3%. The total minutes of IP outgoing long distance calls reached 5.28 billion minutes, representing an increase of 88.6% from the same period last year. Market share increased from 11.7% to 13.9%. The total minutes of incoming calls from international destinations, together with Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan was 860 million minutes, representing an increase of 36.5% from the same period last year.

 

As of June 30, 2003, the total bandwidth leased for our leased line business was 15,602 x 2Mbps. The total bandwidth leased for asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and frame relay (FR) data carrier operations amounted to 4,797 x 2Mbps. The Company was the first in the PRC to provide “UNI-VIDEO” video conference service, as well as video phone service by applying IP technology and the subscriber number for these services was 2,227. As of June 30, 2003, Internet subscribers increased from 7.292 million in 2002 to 9.754 million, representing an increase of 33.8%. Of this total, the number of dedicated line subscribers amounted to 37,000, whilst the number of dial-up subscribers was 9.717 million. In addition, Internet data center (IDC), virtual private network (VPN), virtual private dial-up network (VPDN), “Ruyi” mailbox and other e-commerce businesses also developed rapidly.

 

7



 

3.                      Actively pursued the transformation of the paging business

 

On the basis of its traditional wireless paging business, the Company introduced the “Unicom Paging Information Service” to offer a variety of information services to its subscribers. With the launch of services such as “Cellular-paging Bundled Service” and “Unicom Assistant”, the Company integrated its wireless paging information and mobile SMS businesses. Apart from voice services, the Company fully utilized its paging resources, and provided value-added services such as “Operator-assisted SMS” and “Secretarial Service through Operator” to our existing cellular subscribers to provide differentiated services. As of June 30, 2003, the number of wireless paging subscribers was 13.025 million, representing a decrease of 4.657 million subscribers or 26.3% from 17.682 million subscribers at the end of 2002. However, the subscribers for “Unicom Assistant” increased significantly to 15.18 million. ARPU for wireless paging subscribers was RMB 7.9.

 

4.                      Further strengthened network construction and steadily increasing the quality of communications

 

The nationwide optical fiber transmission network provided a guarantee in terms of network resources for the rapid development of the Company’s businesses. The Company has placed emphasis on the expansion of its integrated business, and has established a unified network platform for its voice, data, Internet and video broadcasting businesses in the PRC. As of June 30, 2003, the optical fiber transmission network has expanded to 522,000 km in length, of which the total length of the nationwide optical fiber backbone transmission network reached 113,000 km. Following completion of the Phase Two Construction Project for the CDMA business, the network has been upgraded to CDMA 1X, further enhancing communication quality. The Company has devoted significant effort to building a high-quality cellular network and establishing scientific network quality maintenance standards in order to improve the operation and maintenance technologies and quality of its cellular networks.

 

5.                      Enhanced sales and marketing activities to facilitate the rapid growth of various businesses

 

The Company also placed emphasis on the research of customers’ needs. Through the creation of renowned brands, such as “Unicom New Horizon”, “U-Max”, “Ruyi Tong”, “Ruyi 133”, “UNI-INFO” and “UNI-VIDEO”, the Company fully capitalized on the advantages of being an integrated telecommunication services operator. By applying the differentiated advantages on its businesses, technologies and services, we offer bundled services of GSM and CDMA cellular service, international and domestic long distance service, data, Internet and paging services, bundled services of basic and value-added services, as well as bundled services of voice and data services, and offer flexible packages to win customers. The industry value chain, comprising handset manufacturers, distributors and content providers, will be further strengthened. The model for the CDMA business was transformed from handset subsidies to acquisition of handsets at the cost of the subscriber. Sales channels were switched from the proprietary ones to those formed by external parties. A nationwide sales network was established and constituted by the established sales offices of the Company, cooperative joint ventures, and licensed retail outlets. There are now 57,302 sales outlets throughout our network. The Company has further strengthened the establishment of the UNI-CRM customer relationship management system, and improved the service standards of the nationally centralized “1001” customer service hotline. Through the establishment of the “Unicom Subscriber Club”, customer satisfaction levels have also been raised.

 

III.                 Business Outlook

 

We believe that the demand in the telecommunications market will remain strong through the second half of the year. This in turn will introduce more opportunities for the continuous growth of the Group’s businesses. By leveraging on the Group’s high quality cellular network and service standards, we expect the Group’s market share in terms of revenue from the PRC telecommunication market to further increase. We will continue to implement business development strategies and objectives of the Company, to further increase the economic efficiency of the Company.

 

With respect to cellular services, the Group will continue to sustain the coordinated development of both the GSM network and CDMA network. The network resources available for the GSM business will be fully capitalized. Steady growth of the business will be sustained by retaining existing subscribers and acquiring new subscribers through the strengthening of SMS services, development of new initiatives on GSM services and customer care activities. Our parent company is now implementing the phase three construction project for the CDMA network, which aims at expanding the CDMA network coverage as well as indoor coverage, increasing wireless data capacity and optimizing network quality. These measures are expected to significantly enhance the quality of our CDMA network. The Company will capitalize on the advantages of “U-Max”, to accelerate the development of mid to high-end customers, and will also actively promote its branding activities and the launch of “Ruyi 133” pre-paid services to expand the market share of CDMA New Horizon.

 

8



 

With respect to long distance, data and Internet businesses, the Group will continue to capitalize on the technological advantages of its unified network platform and introduce new business initiatives to increase business revenue and market share. The data business will be adopted as part of our integrated businesses and marketing and promotion efforts will be devoted to broadband video conference and video phone services. Parallel with the rapid growth of Internet business, emphasis will be placed on the promotion of feature services, such as “Ruyi” mailbox, to actively promote e-commence applications and develop the “Unicom Internet Plaza” broadband Internet model with other third parties.

 

With respect to our wireless paging business, the Group will continue to reduce the operating cost through the bundling of wireless paging businesses with other business of the Group, and will seek to transform the wireless paging business to call center business by offering value-added services such as “Unicom Assistant”, “Unicom Paging Information Services”, and telemarketing.

 

The Company plans to acquire the GSM cellular assets and cellular businesses of the ten unlisted provincial branches from the parent Company at the appropriate time, in order to become a national cellular service operator. The Company also plans to sell the wireless paging business to the parent Company at the appropriate time, in order to optimize the Company’s assets portfolio. When the opportunity arises, the Company also plans to utilize lower cost of funding in the international capital market, to minimize finance costs of the Company.

 

I am confident that through the concerted endeavors of the management and all staff, we will achieve even better results.

 

The Board of Directors resolved that no interim dividend be declared for 2003, and has the intention to pay annual dividend for the year when 2003 annual results are announced.

 

Finally, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the care and support from shareholders and the public at large, in particular, Mr. Yang Xian Zu, for his outstanding contribution to the Company during his tenure as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. I would also like to extend my gratitude to both the management team and all the staff of the Company for their hard work and diligence.

 

 

 

Wang Jianzhou

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

Hong Kong, August 28, 2003

 

GROUP RESULTS

 

China Unicom Limited (the “Company”) is pleased to announce the unaudited condensed consolidated interim results of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Group”) for the six months ended 30 June 2003 extracted from the unaudited condensed consolidated interim accounts of the Group as set out in 2003 interim reports.

 

9



 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2003

 

 

 

 

 

Unaudited
Six months ended 30 June

 

 

 

Note

 

2003

 

As restated
2002

 

 

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue (Turnover):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSM Business

 

2, 7, 8

 

20,041,009

 

12,938,301

 

CDMA Business

 

2, 7, 8

 

7,207,722

 

354,030

 

Data and Internet Business

 

2, 7, 8

 

1,576,865

 

1,308,984

 

Long Distance Business

 

2, 7, 8

 

1,095,777

 

1,115,102

 

Paging Business

 

2, 7, 8

 

726,932

 

1,231,021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total service revenue

 

 

 

30,648,305

 

16,947,438

 

Sales of telecommunications products

 

2, 7, 8

 

1,318,939

 

1,043,406

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating revenue

 

2, 8

 

31,967,244

 

17,990,844

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leased lines and network capacities

 

7

 

(1,952,209

)

(736,960

)

Interconnection charges

 

7

 

(2,577,430

)

(1,268,184

)

Depreciation and amortisation

 

 

 

(8,179,435

)

(5,347,998

)

Personnel

 

 

 

(2,224,348

)

(1,409,262

)

Selling and marketing

 

7

 

(6,737,895

)

(2,089,966

)

General, administrative and other expenses

 

7

 

(4,589,162

)

(2,535,536

)

Cost of telecommunications products sold

 

7

 

(1,428,650

)

(1,167,509

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

 

(27,689,129

)

(14,555,415

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

 

 

4,278,115

 

3,435,429

 

Interest income

 

 

 

104,909

 

266,658

 

Finance costs

 

 

 

(1,019,344

)

(761,267

)

Other (expense) income, net

 

 

 

(9,985

)

42,158

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit before taxation

 

 

 

3,353,695

 

2,982,978

 

Taxation

 

1, 3

 

(966,170

)

(843,434

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit after taxation

 

 

 

2,387,525

 

2,139,544

 

Minority interests

 

 

 

(2,252

)

(2,789

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit attributable to shareholders

 

 

 

2,385,273

 

2,136,755

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share (RMB)

 

5

 

0.190

 

0.170

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share (RMB)

 

5

 

0.190

 

0.170

 

 

10



 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS OF 30 JUNE 2003

 

 

 

Unaudited
30 June 2003

 

Audited
As restated
31 December 2002

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000
(Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

107,481,576

 

107,486,629

 

Goodwill

 

2,227,631

 

2,285,771

 

Other assets

 

6,763,480

 

7,018,223

 

Deferred tax assets

 

825,274

 

826,568

 

Investment securities

 

102,945

 

105,648

 

Investment in associated companies

 

3,814

 

3,814

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total non-current assets

 

117,404,720

 

117,726,653

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of deferred tax assets

 

1,116,638

 

988,666

 

Amounts due from related parties

 

1,066,184

 

1,137,847

 

Amounts due from domestic carriers

 

273,560

 

211,462

 

Prepayments and other current assets

 

2,985,515

 

2,573,764

 

Inventories

 

1,876,635

 

3,229,903

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

4,365,538

 

4,327,268

 

Trading securities

 

201,132

 

173,939

 

Short-term bank deposits

 

1,704,767

 

4,825,205

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

10,209,178

 

14,433,498

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total current assets

 

23,799,147

 

31,901,552

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Dividend payable

 

11,217

 

8,448

 

Payables and accrued liabilities

 

16,633,270

 

19,811,961

 

Amounts due to Unicom Group

 

699,281

 

562,633

 

Amounts due to related parties

 

884,457

 

409,663

 

Amounts due to domestic carriers

 

1,166,698

 

1,123,580

 

Current portion of obligations under finance leases

 

21,114

 

16,793

 

Current portion of long-term bank loans

 

6,355,286

 

5,459,505

 

Taxes payable

 

1,210,025

 

1,106,006

 

Advances from customers

 

5,563,085

 

6,240,225

 

Short-term loans from Unicom Group

 

 

724,127

 

Short-term bank loans

 

10,065,366

 

9,146,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

42,609,799

 

44,609,441

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net current liabilities

 

(18,810,652

)

(12,707,889

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets less current liabilities

 

98,594,068

 

105,018,764

 

 

11



 

 

 

Note

 

Unaudited
30 June 2003

 

Audited
As restated
31 December 2002

 

 

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000
(Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financed by:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share capital

 

 

 

1,331,371

 

1,331,371

 

Share premium

 

 

 

52,482,127

 

52,482,127

 

Reserves

 

4

 

1,300,065

 

1,300,065

 

Retained profits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2002 proposed final dividend

 

4

 

 

1,255,300

 

Others

 

 

 

12,668,945

 

10,283,672

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

67,782,508

 

66,652,535

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority interests

 

 

 

564,008

 

566,257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term bank loans

 

 

 

30,137,212

 

37,686,162

 

Obligations under finance leases

 

 

 

100,511

 

101,302

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

 

9,829

 

12,508

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

 

 

30,247,552

 

37,799,972

 

 

 

 

 

98,594,068

 

105,018,764

 

 

12



 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2003

 

 

 

 

 

Unaudited
Six months ended 30 June

 

 

 

Note

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash inflow from operations

 

(a)

 

13,425,596

 

7,926,090

 

Interest received

 

 

 

125,200

 

411,743

 

Interest paid

 

 

 

(1,348,929

)

(997,141

)

Dividends received

 

 

 

2,531

 

5,981

 

Dividends paid to minority owners of subsidiaries

 

 

 

(1,732

)

(3,295

)

PRC income tax paid

 

 

 

(899,729

)

(588,474

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash inflow from operating activities

 

 

 

11,302,937

 

6,754,904

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

(10,744,473

)

(9,995,704

)

Sale of property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

8,049

 

8,699

 

Purchase of minority interests

 

 

 

 

(36,739

)

Decrease in short-term bank deposits

 

 

 

3,120,438

 

16,584,182

 

Purchase of a subsidiary

 

 

 

(42,029

)

 

Purchase of trading securities

 

 

 

(83,857

)

(8,376

)

Sale of trading securities

 

 

 

79,055

 

4,469

 

Sale of investment securities

 

 

 

6,048

 

3,835

 

Purchase of other assets

 

 

 

(156,758

)

(61,657

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash (outflow) inflow from investing activities

 

 

 

(7,813,527

)

6,498,709

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease of payables to Unicom Group

 

 

 

(724,127

)

(339,800

)

Proceeds from short-term bank loans

 

 

 

4,793,366

 

2,433,646

 

Proceeds from long-term bank loans

 

 

 

3,505,447

 

2,273,457

 

Repayment of short-term bank loans

 

 

 

(3,874,500

)

(4,547,125

)

Repayment of long-term bank loans

 

 

 

(10,158,616

)

(15,731,329

)

2002 final dividends paid (Note 4(a))

 

 

 

(1,255,300

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash outflow from financing activities

 

 

 

(7,713,730

)

(15,911,151

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

(4,224,320

)

(2,657,538

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

 

 

14,433,498

 

18,413,010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

 

 

10,209,178

 

15,755,472

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analysis of the balances of cash and cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash balance

 

 

 

5,547

 

5,515

 

Bank balance

 

 

 

10,203,631

 

15,749,957

 

 

 

 

 

10,209,178

 

15,755,472

 

 

13



 

(a)                  The reconciliation of profit before taxation to net cash inflow from operations is as follows:

 

 

 

Unaudited
Six months ended 30 June

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit before taxation

 

3,353,695

 

2,982,978

 

Adjustments for:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortisation

 

8,179,435

 

5,282,202

 

Amortisation of deferred customer acquisition costs of contractual CDMA subscribers

 

3,104,225

 

65,796

 

Interest income

 

(104,909

)

(266,658

)

Interest expense

 

1,004,362

 

734,991

 

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

46,011

 

70,241

 

Impairment loss of property, plant and equipment

 

535,068

 

 

Provision for doubtful debts

 

854,954

 

526,752

 

Share of losses from associated companies

 

 

1,312

 

Dividends from investment securities

 

(2,531

)

(5,981

)

Realised gains on trading securities

 

(7,902

)

(1,569

)

Unrealised gains on trading securities

 

(14,489

)

(15,117

)

Realised gains on investment securities

 

(3,345

)

(385

)

Reversal of impairment loss of associated companies

 

 

(5,663

)

Additional provision of impairment loss of investment securities

 

 

650

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit before working capital changes

 

16,944,574

 

9,369,549

 

Increase in accounts receivable

 

(893,224

)

(988,413

)

Decrease/(increase) in inventories

 

1,353,268

 

(276,362

)

Increase in other assets

 

(2,539,986

)

(520,386

)

Increase in prepayments and other current assets

 

(864,649

)

(533,798

)

(Increase)/decrease in amounts due from domestic carriers

 

(62,098

)

53,538

 

Decrease in amounts due from related parties

 

71,663

 

483,611

 

Decrease in payables and accrued liabilities

 

(561,372

)

(466,487

)

(Decrease)/increase in advances from customers

 

(677,140

)

358,395

 

Increase in amounts due to domestic carriers

 

43,118

 

58,293

 

Increase in amounts due to related parties

 

611,442

 

388,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash inflow from operations

 

13,425,596

 

7,926,090

 

 

(b)                 Supplemental information:

 

Payables to equipment suppliers for construction-in-progress during the six months ended 30 June 2003 decreased by approximately RMB2,603 million (2002: RMB1,023 million).

 

NOTES

 

1.                      Basis of presentation and accounting policies

 

The Company was incorporated in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“Hong Kong”), the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) on 8 February 2000. The principal activities of the Company are investment holding and the Company’s subsidiaries are engaged in the provision of GSM and CDMA cellular, data, Internet, long distance and paging services in the PRC.

 

These unaudited condensed consolidated interim accounts are prepared in accordance with Hong Kong Statement of Standard Accounting Practice (“SSAP”) 25, “Interim Financial Reporting” issued by the Hong Kong Society of Accountants (“HKSA”). The condensed consolidated interim accounts are unaudited but have been reviewed by the Audit Committee of the Company.

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim accounts include the financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries. These condensed consolidated interim accounts should be read in conjunction with the 2002 annual report. The details of the Company’s subsidiaries are set out in Note 23 to the audited financial statements included in its 2002 annual report.

 

14



 

In 2002, the Company acquired the entire interests of Unicom New Century Telecommunications Corporation Limited (a limited liability company established in the PRC, hereinafter referred to as “Unicom New Century”), from its ultimate parent company, China United Telecommunications Corporation (a state-owned enterprise established in the PRC, hereinafter referred to as “Unicom Group”). The Company has adopted the purchase method of accounting for this acquisition, and the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired were recorded based on their respective fair values as of 31 December 2002. The excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the net assets acquired has been recorded as goodwill, which is amortised using the straight-line method over a period of 20 years. The effective date of this acquisition was 31 December 2002, accordingly, the operating results of Unicom New Century have been included in the consolidated income statement of the Group for the six months ended 30 June 2003. Details of the acquisition have already been set forth in shareholder’s circular “Connected Transactions and Renewal of Waiver for Existing Connected Transactions” of the Company issued on 29 November 2002 and the Company’s 2002 annual report.

 

The accounting policies and methods of computation used in the preparation of these condensed consolidated interim accounts are consistent with those used in the annual report for the year ended 31 December 2002 except the Group has changed its accounting policies following the adoption of SSAP 35 “Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance” and SSAP 12 “Income Taxes” issued by the HKSA, which are effective for accounting periods commencing on or after 1 July 2002 and 1 January 2003, respectively.

 

Upon the adoption of SSAP 12 “Income Taxes” in 2003, deferred taxation is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the accounts. Taxation rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date are used to determine deferred taxation. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised.

 

Prior to 2003, deferred taxation was accounted for at the current taxation rate in respect of timing differences between profit as computed for taxation purpose and profit as stated in the income statement. A deferred tax asset was not recognised unless the related benefits are expected to crystallise in the foreseeable future. The adoption of the new SSAP 12 in 2003 represents a change in accounting policy which has been applied retrospectively so that the comparatives presented have been restated to conform to the changed policy.

 

The change in the accounting policy has resulted in an increase of opening retained profits as of 1 January 2003 and 2002 by approximately RMB405,300,000 and RMB373,159,000, respectively, which represented the deferred tax assets relating to the provision for doubtful debts previously not recognised. This change has resulted in an increase in deferred tax assets at 1 January 2003 by approximately RMB405,300,000. The profit for the six months ended 30 June 2002 has also been reduced by approximately RMB114,775,000.

 

In addition, the adoption of SSAP 12 also resulted in an increase of the deferred tax assets of Unicom New Century as of 31 December 2002 by approximately RMB80,448,000, which had reduced the goodwill recorded by the Group arising from the acquisition of Unicom New Century on 31 December 2002 accordingly.

 

Since the impact of the adoption of the SSAP 35 “Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance” on the Group’s financial statements is not significant, no prior period adjustment has been required.

 

2.                      Operating revenue

 

Operating revenue primarily comprises usage fees, monthly fees, interconnection revenue, leased line rental income and sales of telecommunication products earned by the Group from GSM, CDMA, data, Internet, long distance and paging services. Tariffs for these services are subject to regulations by various government authorities, including the State Development Planning Commission, the Ministry of Information Industry and the provincial regulatory authorities. Operating revenue is net of business tax and government surcharges.

 

15



 

3.                      Taxation

 

Provision for taxation represents:

 

 

 

Unaudited
Six months ended 30 June

 

 

 

2003

 

As restated
2002

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

 

 

 

 

(Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for PRC enterprise income tax on the estimated taxable profits for the period

 

1,092,849

 

337,395

 

Deferred taxation

 

(126,679

)

506,039

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

966,170

 

843,434

 

 

There is no Hong Kong profits tax liability as the Group does not have any assessable income sourced from Hong Kong for the six months ended 30 June 2003 and 2002.

 

4.                      Distribution of profits attributable to shareholders

 

(a)                  At the annual general meeting held on 12 May 2003, the shareholders of the Company approved the payment of final dividend of RMB0.10 per ordinary share for the year ended 31 December 2002 totalling RMB1,255,299,607 (2002: Nil) which has been reflected as an appropriation of retained profits for the six months ended 30 June 2003. As of 30 June 2003, such dividends have been fully paid by the Company.

 

(b)                 As stated in Note 1, the change in accounting policy on income taxes has resulted in an increase of distributable reserves to shareholders of China Unicom Corporation Limited (“CUCL”) for the year ended 31 December 2002 and 2001 respectively. As result, CUCL appropriated additional statutory reserves amounting to approximately RMB40,530,000 in 2003 (2002: RMB37,316,000).

 

(c)                  During the six months ended 30 June 2003, the Group has not made any appropriation to reserves or declared any dividends to the shareholders (2002: Nil).

 

5.                      Earnings per share

 

Basic earnings per share for the six months ended 30 June 2003 and 2002 were computed by dividing the profit attributable to shareholders of approximately RMB2,385,273,000 and RMB2,136,755,000 (restated) respectively, by the weighted average number of 12,552,996,070 ordinary shares in issue during the period.

 

Diluted earnings per share for the six months ended 30 June 2003 and 2002 were computed by dividing the profit attributable to shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period, after adjusting for the effects of the potential dilutive ordinary shares. All potential dilutive shares arose from share options granted under (i) the amended Pre-Global Offering Share Option Scheme; and (ii) the amended Share Option Scheme. There was no dilution of earnings per share for both periods after taking into account the dilutive effect of the share options.

 

6.                      Contingent liability

 

As of 30 June 2003, Unicom Guomai Communications Corporation Limited provided guarantees for bank loans borrowed by Shanghai Telecommunications Company Limited (formally known as “Shanghai Provincial Post and Telecommunications Administrations”) amounted to approximately US$18.44 million (2002: US$23.48 million). All these bank loans were not yet due as of 30 June 2003.

 

16



 

7.                      Related party transactions

 

The following is a summary of significant recurring transactions carried out with Unicom Group and its subsidiaries. In the director’s opinion, these transactions were carried out on normal commercial terms in the ordinary course of business.

 

 

 

Unaudited
Six months ended 30 June

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transactions with Unicom Group and its subsidiaries:

 

 

 

 

 

Interconnection and roaming revenues

 

473,687

 

682,834

 

Interconnection and roaming charges

 

125,177

 

146,066

 

Rental charges for premises, equipment and facilities

 

12,440

 

10,356

 

Rental income for premises and facilities

 

6,867

 

 

Revenue for leasing of transmission line capacity

 

96,700

 

277,614

 

Sales of CDMA mobile handsets

 

10,775

 

358,740

 

Charges for the international gateway services

 

6,666

 

6,732

 

Leasing of satellite transmission capacity

 

16,330

 

31,117

 

Purchase of telecom cards

 

640,957

 

528,574

 

CDMA network capacity lease rental

 

1,548,493

 

368,671

 

Commission expenses for sales agency services incurred for telecom cards

 

9,038

 

8,972

 

Agency fee incurred for procurement of telecommunications equipment

 

5,242

 

68,916

 

Rental for the PRC corporate office

 

 

5,066

 

Sales of telecommunications equipment

 

3,369

 

 

 

Note:

 

Information presented above for the six months ended 30 June 2003 also comprised new related party transactions between Unicom New Century and Unicom Group and its subsidiaries after the acquisition of Unicom New Century by the Group on 31 December 2002. The nature, terms and conditions of these new related party transactions of Unicom New Century are substantially the same as the Group’s, which have been set forth in the shareholders’ circular “Connected Transactions and Renewal of Waiver for Existing Connected Transactions” of the Company issued on 29 November 2002 and the Company’s 2002 annual report.

 

Prior to 31 December 2002, the Group’s transactions with Unicom New Century (previously a subsidiary of Unicom Group) were treated as related party transactions, and had been included in the transactions described above for the six months ended 30 June 2002. Such transactions mainly included (i) interconnection and roaming revenues, (ii) interconnection and roaming charges, (iii) revenue for leasing of transmission line capacity and (iv) sales of CDMA mobile handsets. Upon the acquisition of Unicom New Century, these transactions become inter-group transactions and have been eliminated in the Group’s consolidated financial statements starting from 1 January 2003.

 

17



 

8.                      Segment information

 

Operating segments represent components of an enterprise regarding which separate financial information is available for regular evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, when considering how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.

 

The Group’s primary measure of segment results is based on segment profit or loss before taxation.

 

Unaudited

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 June 2003

 

 

 

GSM
Business

 

CDMA
Business

 

Internet and
Data
Business

 

Long
Distance
Business

 

Paging
Business

 

Unallocated
amounts

 

Elimination

 

Total

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

Operating Revenue (Turnover):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Usage fee

 

14,391,597

 

5,083,572

 

1,126,373

 

603,604

 

 

 

 

 

21,205,146

 

Monthly fee

 

3,595,350

 

1,565,555

 

4,524

 

 

396,930

 

 

 

 

5,562,359

 

Interconnection revenue

 

821,812

 

215,620

 

163,534

 

145,501

 

645

 

 

 

 

1,347,112

 

Leased lines rental

 

 

 

239,242

 

331,470

 

 

 

 

 

570,712

 

Other revenue

 

1,232,250

 

342,975

 

43,192

 

15,202

 

329,357

 

 

 

 

1,962,976

 

Total services revenue

 

20,041,009

 

7,207,722

 

1,576,865

 

1,095,777

 

726,932

 

 

 

 

30,648,305

 

Sales of telecommunications products

 

476,322

 

636,229

 

2,328

 

361

 

203,699

 

 

 

 

1,318,939

 

Total operating revenue from external customers

 

20,517,331

 

7,843,951

 

1,579,193

 

1,096,138

 

930,631

 

 

 

 

31,967,244

 

Intersegment revenue

 

9,490

 

997

 

766,793

 

349,218

 

101,375

 

 

(1,227,873

)

 

Total operating revenue

 

20,526,821

 

7,844,948

 

2,345,986

 

1,445,356

 

1,032,006

 

 

 

 

31,967,244

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leased lines and network capacities

 

(161,726

)

(1,597,185

)

(141,374

)

(18,448

)

(44,435

)

 

10,959

 

(1,952,209

)

Interconnection charges

 

(2,427,999

)

(614,556

)

(305,371

)

(345,044

)

 

 

1,115,540

 

(2,577,430

)

Depreciation and amortisation

 

(6,545,994

)

(169,688

)

(621,014

)

(167,317

)

(629,702

)

(2,982

)

(42,738

)

(8,179,435

)

Personnel

 

(1,329,016

)

(286,710

)

(226,152

)

(150,602

)

(217,539

)

(14,329

)

 

 

(2,224,348

)

Selling and marketing

 

(1,912,851

)

(4,349,367

)

(269,090

)

(145,260

)

(62,778

)

 

1,451

 

(6,737,895

)

General, administrative and other expenses

 

(2,785,766

)

(569,320

)

(309,165

)

(203,404

)

(702,000

)

(19,997

)

490

 

(4,589,162

)

Cost of telecommunications products sold

 

(405,012

)

(831,348

)

(5,932

)

(1,026

)

(285,054

)

 

99,722

 

(1,428,650

)

Total operating expenses

 

(15,568,364

)

(8,418,174

)

(1,878,098

)

(1,031,101

)

(1,941,508

)

(37,308

)

 

 

(27,689,129

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit (loss)

 

4,958,457

 

(573,226

)

467,888

 

414,255

 

(909,502

)

(37,308

)

 

 

4,278,115

 

Interest income

 

30,721

 

2,688

 

1,776

 

1,169

 

4,533

 

64,022

 

 

 

104,909

 

Finance costs

 

(959,690

)

(15,961

)

(15,085

)

(25,717

)

(2,984

)

93

 

 

 

(1,019,344

)

Other (expenses) income, net

 

(20,555

)

(1,209

)

(8,763

)

147

 

20,395

 

 

 

 

(9,985

)

Segment profit (loss) before Taxation

 

4,008,933

 

(587,708

)

445,816

 

389,854

 

(887,558

)

26,807

 

 

 

3,353,695

 

Taxation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(966,170

)

Profit after taxation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,387,525

 

Minority interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,252

)

Profit attributable to shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,385,273

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision (write-back) for doubtful debts

 

628,731

 

160,417

 

31,873

 

26,944

 

6,989

 

 

 

 

854,954

 

Impairment loss recognised in the income statement

 

 

 

7,030

 

 

528,038

 

 

 

 

535,068

 

Capital expenditures for segment assets (1)

 

3,549,753

 

 

1,327,412

 

1,691,980

 

20,128

 

1,552,295

 

 

 

8,141,568

 

 

 

 

Six months ended 30 June 2002

 

 

 

GSM
Business

 

CDMA
Business

 

Internet and
Data
Business

 

Long
Distance
Business

 

Paging
Business

 

Unallocated
amounts

 

Elimination

 

Total

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

Operating Revenue (Turnover):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Usage fee

 

9,766,465

 

243,819

 

952,605

 

526,369

 

 

 

 

 

11,489,258

 

Monthly fee

 

2,073,919

 

86,098

 

8,256

 

 

1,119,141

 

 

 

 

3,287,414

 

Interconnection revenue

 

715,797

 

18,200

 

173,758

 

264,662

 

 

 

 

 

1,172,417

 

Leased lines rental

 

 

 

139,198

 

318,968

 

 

 

 

 

458,166

 

Other revenue

 

382,120

 

5,913

 

35,167

 

5,103

 

111,880

 

 

 

 

540,183

 

Total services revenue

 

12,938,301

 

354,030

 

1,308,984

 

1,115,102

 

1,231,021

 

 

 

 

16,947,438

 

Sales of telecommunications products

 

376,241

 

99,912

 

 

 

567,253

 

 

 

 

1,043,406

 

Total operating revenue from external customers

 

13,314,542

 

453,942

 

1,308,984

 

1,115,102

 

1,798,274

 

 

 

 

17,990,844

 

Intersegment revenue

 

 

 

289,370

 

415,550

 

400,582

 

 

(1,105,502

)

 

Total operating revenue

 

13,314,542

 

453,942

 

1,598,354

 

1,530,652

 

2,198,856

 

 

 

 

17,990,844

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leased lines and network capacities

 

(174,423

)

(384,086

)

(53,908

)

(46,539

)

(78,004

)

 

 

 

(736,960

)

Interconnection charges

 

(1,625,489

)

(32,049

)

(163,877

)

(200,677

)

 

 

753,908

 

(1,268,184

)

Depreciation and amortisation

 

(3,976,010

)

(51,103

)

(296,474

)

(293,666

)

(728,173

)

(2,572

)

 

 

(5,347,998

)

Personnel

 

(720,478

)

(97,799

)

(169,857

)

(118,964

)

(288,575

)

(13,589

)

 

 

(1,409,262

)

Selling and marketing

 

(1,228,698

)

(212,711

)

(385,210

)

(143,431

)

(119,916

)

 

 

 

(2,089,966

)

General, administrative and other expenses

 

(1,705,902

)

(149,072

)

(186,095

)

(133,310

)

(330,792

)

(30,365

)

 

 

(2,535,536

)

Cost of telecommunications products sold

 

(468,128

)

(129,858

)

 

 

(914,713

)

 

345,190

 

(1,167,509

)

Total operating expenses

 

(9,899,128

)

(1,056,678

)

(1,255,421

)

(936,587

)

(2,460,173

)

(46,526

)

 

 

(14,555,415

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit (loss)

 

3,415,414

 

(602,736

)

342,933

 

594,065

 

(261,317

)

(46,526

)

 

 

3,435,429

 

Interest income

 

25,884

 

2,939

 

3,310

 

3,321

 

11,902

 

219,302

 

 

 

266,658

 

Finance costs

 

(644,000

)

(964

)

(36,472

)

(65,201

)

(368

)

(14,262

)

 

 

(761,267

)

Other (expenses) income, net

 

(1,545

)

58

 

(1,209

)

604

 

35,979

 

8,271

 

 

 

42,158

 

Segment profit (loss) before Taxation

 

2,795,753

 

(600,703

)

308,562

 

532,789

 

(213,804

)

166,785

 

 

 

2,982,978

 

Taxation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(843,434

)

Profit after taxation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,139,544

 

Minority interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,789

)

Profit attributable to shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,136,755

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision (write-back) for doubtful debts

 

472,342

 

5,850

 

26,571

 

22,312

 

(323

)

 

 

 

526,752

 

Impairment loss recognised in the income statement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures for segment assets (1)

 

3,449,960

 

 

2,504,426

 

1,419,917

 

139,039

 

1,459,223

 

 

 

8,972,565

 

 

 

 

Unaudited
As of 30 June 2003

 

 

 

GSM
Business

 

CDMA
Business

 

Internet
and Data
Business

 

Long
Distance
Business

 

Paging
Business

 

Unallocated
amounts

 

Elimination

 

Total

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total segment assets

 

97,506,360

 

4,776,788

 

8,464,964

 

14,364,942

 

6,651,909

 

56,874,465

 

(47,435,561

)

141,203,867

 

Total segment liabilities

 

58,894,369

 

5,431,989

 

3,459,237

 

3,458,651

 

1,521,469

 

91,636

 

 

 

72,857,351

 

 

 

 

Audited
As of 31 December 2002

 

 

 

GSM
Business

 

CDMA
Business

 

Internet
and Data
Business

 

Long
Distance
Business

 

Paging
Business

 

Unallocated
amounts

 

Elimination

 

Total

 

 

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

RMB’000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total segment assets

 

97,888,808

 

5,724,427

 

7,081,704

 

13,876,837

 

8,410,871

 

58,016,167

 

(41,370,609

)

149,628,205

 

Total segment liabilities

 

67,666,655

 

5,788,290

 

2,785,794

 

3,826,692

 

2,205,343

 

136,639

 

 

 

82,409,413

 

 

(1)                  Capital expenditures classified under “unallocated amounts” represent capital expenditures on common facilities, which benefit all business segments.

 

INTERIM DIVIDEND

 

It was resolved by our Board of Directors that no interim dividend for the six months ended 30 June 2003 be declared.

 

CHARGE ON ASSETS

 

As at 30 June 2003, no property, plant and equipment was pledged to banks as loan security (30 June 2002: Nil).

 

18



 

PURCHASE, SALE OR REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

During the period, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries purchased, sold or redeemed any of the Company’s listed securities.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The audit committee has reviewed together with the management, the accounting principles and practices adopted by the Group and discussed auditing, internal control and financial reporting matters. In addition, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the auditors of the Company, have reviewed the unaudited condensed interim financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2003 in accordance with Statements of Accounting Standards 700 “Engagement to review interim financial reports” issued by the Hong Kong Society of Accountants and communicated the review results to the audit committee.

 

COMPLIANCE WITH CODE OF BEST PRACTICE

 

None of the Directors is aware of any information that would reasonably indicate that the Company is not, or was not during the period in compliance with the Code of Best Practice as set out in Appendix 14 of the Listing Rules of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (“the Exchange”), except that non-executive directors were not appointed for a specific term but are subject to retirement by rotation and re-election at the Company’s annual general meetings in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association.

 

INTERIM REPORT

 

The 2003 Interim Report containing all the information required by paragraphs 46(1) to 46(6) of Appendix 16 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules will be published in the interim report which will be delivered to all shareholders by post and released on the websites of the Exchange (www.hkex.com.hk) and the Company (www.chinaunicom.com.hk) in due course.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The Company would also like to caution readers about the forward-looking nature of the above statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control. Potential risks and uncertainties include those concerning the continued growth of the telecommunications industry in China, the changes of the regulatory environment and our ability to successfully execute our different business strategies.

 

19