Form 20-F
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 20-F

 

 

 

¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to             

OR

 

¨ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report

Commission file number: 1-14696

 

 

China Mobile Limited

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

N/A

(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)

 

 

Hong Kong, China

(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

60th Floor, The Center

99 Queen’s Road Central

Hong Kong, China

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Grace Wong

Company Secretary

China Mobile Limited

60th Floor, The Center

99 Queen’s Road Central

Hong Kong, China

Telephone: (852) 3121-8888

Fax: (852) 2511-9092

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile Number and Address of Company Contact Person)

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Ordinary shares, par value HK$0.10 per share   New York Stock Exchange*

 

* Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing on the New York Stock Exchange of American depositary shares representing the ordinary shares.

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

 

 

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

 

 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

As of December 31, 2010, 20,065,423,246 ordinary shares, par value HK$0.10 per share, were issued and outstanding.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or (15)(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Note — Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing.

U.S. GAAP  ¨

International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board  x

Other  ¨

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.    Item 17  ¨    Item 18  ¨

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

China Mobile Limited

 

          Page  
Forward-Looking Statements      1   
   PART I   
Item 1.   

Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

     2   
Item 2.   

Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

     2   
Item 3.   

Key Information

     2   
Item 4.   

Information on the Company

     12   
Item 4A.   

Unresolved Staff Comments

     29   
Item 5.   

Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

     29   
Item 6.   

Directors, Senior Management and Employees

     41   
Item 7.   

Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

     47   
Item 8.   

Financial Information

     51   
Item 9.   

The Offer and Listing

     52   
Item 10.   

Additional Information

     53   
Item 11.   

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     60   
Item 12.   

Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

     61   
   PART II   
Item 13.   

Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

     62   
Item 14.   

Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

     62   
Item 15.   

Controls and Procedures

     62   
Item 16A.   

Audit Committee Financial Expert

     64   
Item 16B.   

Code of Ethics

     64   
Item 16C.   

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

     64   
Item 16D.   

Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

     64   
Item 16E.   

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

     64   
Item 16F.   

Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

     64   
Item 16G.   

Corporate Governance

     65   
   PART III   
Item 17.   

Financial Statements

     66   
Item 18.   

Financial Statements

     66   
Item 19.   

Exhibits

     66   


Table of Contents

Forward-Looking Statements

This annual report on Form 20-F contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to:

 

   

our business objectives and strategies;

 

   

our operations and prospects;

 

   

our telecommunications network expansion plans and related capital expenditure plans;

 

   

the expected impact of any acquisitions or other strategic transactions;

 

   

our provision of services, including 3G services and services based on evolution of 3G technology, and our ability to attract customers to these services;

 

   

the planned development of new mobile telecommunications technologies and other technologies and related applications;

 

   

the expected impact of tariff changes on our business, financial condition and results of operations;

 

   

the expected impact of new service offerings on our business, financial condition and results of operations; and

 

   

future developments in the telecommunications industry in Mainland China, including changes in the regulatory and competitive landscape.

The words “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “seek”, “should”, “target”, “will” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify certain of these forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update these forward-looking statements and are under no obligation to do so.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. Moreover, our future business expansion and other capital expenditure and development plans are dependent on numerous factors, including the risk factors set forth in “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors” and the following:

 

   

changes in political, economic, legal, tax and social conditions in Mainland China, including, without limitation, the PRC government’s policies with respect to new entrants in the PRC telecommunications industry, the entry of foreign companies into Mainland China’s telecommunications market and Mainland China’s continued economic growth;

 

   

our ability to effectively integrate our mobile e-Commerce platform with the e-Commerce platform of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, or SPD Bank, and successfully develop mobile e-Commerce products in connection with our investment in, and strategic cooperation with, SPD Bank;

 

   

our ability to effectively integrate the sales and distribution business of China Topssion Communication Co., Ltd., or Topssion, into our business; and

 

   

the availability of qualified management and technical personnel.

 

1


Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers.

Not applicable.

Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable.

Not applicable.

Item 3. Key Information.

Selected Financial Data

The following tables present selected historical financial data of our company as of and for each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2010. Except for amounts presented in U.S. dollars and per ADS data, the selected historical consolidated statement of comprehensive income data and other financial data for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the selected historical consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 set forth below are derived from, should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, our audited consolidated financial statements, including the related notes, included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F. The selected historical consolidated statement of comprehensive income data for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 and the selected historical consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 set forth below are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements that are not included in this annual report on Form 20-F. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

In accordance with rule amendments adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, which became effective on March 4, 2008, we are not required to provide a reconciliation of our financial statements prepared under IFRS to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

The statistical information set forth in this annual report on Form 20-F relating to Mainland China is taken or derived from various publicly available government publications that have not been prepared or independently verified by us. This statistical information may not be consistent with other statistical information from other sources within or outside Mainland China.

 

     As of or for the year ended December 31,  
     2006(1)     2007(1)     2008(1)     2009     2010     2010  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     US$  
    

(in millions, except share, per share

and per ADS information)

 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income Data:

            

Operating revenue

     293,562        357,477        411,810        452,103        485,231        73,520   

Operating expenses

     202,555        233,764        269,415        305,095        334,477        50,678   

Profit from operations

     91,007        123,713        142,395        147,008        150,754        22,842   

Profit before taxation(2)

     95,258        128,883        149,523        153,836        159,071        24,102   

Taxation(2)

     (29,760     (42,143     (36,735     (38,413     (39,047     (5,916

Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders

     65,410        86,623        112,627        115,166        119,640        18,127   

Basic earnings per share(3)

     3.29        4.33        5.62        5.74        5.96        0.90   

Diluted earnings per share(3)

     3.26        4.26        5.53        5.67        5.89        0.89   

Basic earnings per ADS(3)

     16.44        21.65        28.10        28.71        29.82        4.52   

Diluted earnings per ADS(3)

     16.29        21.29        27.66        28.35        29.44        4.46   

 

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     As of or for the year ended December 31,  
     2006(1)     2007(1)     2008(1)     2009     2010     2010  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     US$  
    

(in millions, except share, per share

and per ADS information)

 

Number of shares utilized in basic calculation (in thousands)

     19,892,968        20,005,123        20,043,934        20,057,674        20,062,910        20,062,910   

Number of shares utilized in diluted calculation (in thousands)

     20,078,549        20,339,428        20,356,126        20,312,459        20,321,332        20,321,332   

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

            

Working capital(4)

     28,489        49,916        56,611        77,550        66,252        10,038   

Cash and cash equivalents

     71,167        78,859        87,426        78,894        87,543        13,264   

Deposits with banks

     82,294        109,685        130,833        185,613        204,803        31,031   

Accounts receivable

     7,153        6,985        6,913        6,405        7,632        1,156   

Property, plant and equipment

     218,274        257,170        327,783        360,075        385,296        58,378   

Total assets

     495,436        564,169        658,427        751,368        861,935        130,596   

Bonds–current portion(5) (6)

     2,996        —          —          —          4,981        755   

–non-current portion

     9,941        9,949        9,920        9,918        4,982        755   

Deferred consideration payable(7)

     23,633        23,633        23,633        23,633        23,633        3,581   

Total liabilities

     177,714        192,020        217,776        243,734        284,532        43,111   

Share capital

     2,130        2,136        2,138        2,139        2,139        324   

Shareholders’ equity

     317,351        371,661        440,022        506,748        576,157        87,297   

Other Financial Data:

            

Capital expenditures and land lease prepayments(8)

     77,566        99,551        122,814        116,675        114,338        17,324   

Net cash generated from operating activities

     149,346        168,612        193,647        207,123        231,379        35,057   

Net cash used in investing activities

     (118,841     (123,039     (139,026     (165,927     (171,572     (25,996

Net cash used in financing activities

     (23,587     (37,276     (45,684     (49,774     (51,051     (7,735

Dividend declared

     31,156        39,883        48,364        49,544        51,818        7,851   

Dividend declared per share (RMB)

     1.566        2.000        2.415        2.471        2.595        0.39   

Dividend declared per share (HK$)

     1.542        2.098        2.743        2.804        3.014        0.39   

 

(1) With effect from January 1, 2009, the Company retrospectively adopted the IFRIC Interpretation 13. The comparative figures as of and for each of the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 have been restated according to IFRIC Interpretation 13.
(2) Amortization of tax credit on purchase of domestically manufactured telecommunications equipment is included in income tax expense in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Accordingly, the amounts in 2006 have been reclassified to conform to the presentation in those four years.
(3) The basic earnings per share have been computed by dividing profit attributable to our equity shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The diluted earnings per share have been computed after adjusting for the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary shares, respectively. Dilutive potential ordinary shares resulting from the share options granted to our directors and employees under the share option scheme would decrease profit attributable to equity shareholders per share. The basic earnings per ADS amounts have been computed based on one ADS representing five ordinary shares.
(4) Represents current assets minus current liabilities.
(5) The guaranteed bonds due 2007 with an aggregate principal amount of RMB3,000 million were fully redeemed upon maturity on October 28, 2007.
(6) The guaranteed bonds due 2011 with an aggregate principal amount of RMB5,000 million will be due in June 2011 and accordingly the amount was classified as current liabilities as of December 31, 2010.
(7) Represents the respective balance of the purchase consideration payable to our immediate holding company for our acquisition of the eight regional mobile telecommunications companies in 2002 and for our acquisition of the ten regional mobile telecommunications companies and other telecommunications assets in 2004. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Contractual Obligations and Commitments.”
(8) Represents payments made for capital expenditures and land lease prepayments during the year and included in net cash used in investing activities.

 

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Exchange Rate Information

We publish our consolidated financial statements in Renminbi. Solely for the convenience of the reader, this annual report on Form 20-F contains translations of certain Renminbi and Hong Kong dollar amounts into U.S. dollars and vice versa at RMB6.6000 = US$1.00 and HK$7.7810 = US$1.00, the noon buying rates in New York City for cable transfers as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on December 30, 2010. These translations should not be construed as representations that the Renminbi or Hong Kong dollar amounts could actually be converted into U.S. dollars at such rates or at all.

The noon buying rates in New York City for cable transfers as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York were RMB6.4920 = US$1.00 and HK$7.7669 = US$1.00, respectively, on April 21, 2011. The following table sets forth the high and low noon buying rates between Renminbi and U.S. dollars and between Hong Kong dollars and U.S. dollars for each month during the previous six months:

Noon Buying Rate

 

     RMB per US$1.00           HK$ per US$1.00  
     High      Low           High      Low  

October 2010

     6.6912         6.6397      

October 2010

     7.7648         7.7515   

November 2010

     6.6892         6.6330      

November 2010

     7.7656         7.7501   

December 2010

     6.6745         6.6000      

December 2010

     7.7833         7.7612   

January 2011

     6.6364         6.5809      

January 2011

     7.7978         7.7683   

February 2011

     6.5965         6.5520      

February 2011

     7.7957         7.7823   

March 2011

     6.5743         6.5483      

March 2011

     7.8012         7.7750   

The following table sets forth the average noon buying rates between Renminbi and U.S. dollars and between Hong Kong dollars and U.S. dollars in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, calculated by averaging the noon buying rates on the last day of each month during the relevant year.

Average Noon Buying Rate

 

     RMB per US$1.00      HK$ per US$1.00  

2006

     7.9579         7.7685   

2007

     7.5806         7.8008   

2008

     6.9193         7.7814   

2009

     6.8295         7.7513   

2010

     6.7603         7.7692   

Risk Factors

We wish to caution readers that the following important factors, and those important factors described in other reports submitted to, or filed with, the SEC, among other factors, could affect our actual results and could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf, and that such factors may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects as well as our ordinary shares and ADSs.

Risks Relating to Our Business

We may not be able to maintain the same level of growth as we have experienced over the past decade, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations as well as our profitability.

 

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We have experienced significant growth over the past decade, measured by the increase in both our customer base and our revenue. However, our rate of growth as measured by our revenue has been decreasing over the past five years, due in part to the continued increase in the mobile penetration rate and competition among mobile telecommunication operators in Mainland China. We cannot assure you that we will be able to achieve a high level of growth in the future. In particular, according to data published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, mobile penetration rate in Mainland China reached 64.4% as of December 31, 2010. Moreover, the effects of the restructuring of the telecommunications industry in 2008 that has significantly changed the competitive landscape in the telecommunications industry in Mainland China have begun to emerge, and have resulted in further intensified competition. See “— Competition from other telecommunications services providers and competitors in other related industries may further increase, which may reduce our market share and decrease our profit margin, and we cannot assure you that any potential change in the competitive landscape of the telecommunications industry in Mainland China would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.” All of these factors, among others, have contributed to a slowdown in the growth in demand for our telecommunications services in Mainland China. As a result, our customer base grew at a lower rate in 2010 than in prior years. We had more net additions to our customer base than our competitors and added 61.7 million new customers in 2010, which represented a 5.1% decrease from the number of new customers that we added for 2009. Furthermore, our operating revenue grew by 7.3% in 2010 as compared to 9.8% in 2009. Our efforts to achieve growth could be hampered if we are unable to compete effectively with other telecommunications services providers in Mainland China. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in our efforts to achieve a high level of customer growth or to increase the utilization of our telecommunications services. If we are unable to sustain our growth, our financial condition and results of operations as well as our profitability may be materially and adversely affected.

Competition from other telecommunications services providers and competitors in other related industries may further increase, which may reduce our market share and decrease our profit margin, and we cannot assure you that any potential change in the competitive landscape of the telecommunications industry in Mainland China would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We continue to face increasing competition from other telecommunications services providers in Mainland China. In May 2008, the MIIT, the National Development and Reform Commission, or the NDRC, and the Ministry of Finance, or the MOF, jointly announced a policy initiative to further reform the PRC telecommunications industry. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — The History and Development of the Company — Industry Restructuring and Changes in Our Shareholding Structure.” Upon completion of the industry restructuring in January 2009, principal participants in the telecommunications industry in Mainland China include United Network Communications Group Company Limited, or China Unicom, China Telecommunications Corporation, or China Telecom, and us, with both China Telecom and China Unicom becoming full-service telecommunications services providers that operate both fixed-line telecommunications networks and mobile telecommunications networks. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Business Overview — Competition.” In addition, the PRC government encourages orderly competition in the telecommunications industry in Mainland China and has in the past extended favorable regulatory policies to some of our competitors in order to help them become more viable competitors. See “— Risks Relating to the Telecommunications Industry in Mainland China — Current or future asymmetrical and other regulatory measures adopted by the PRC regulatory authorities could materially harm our competitive position.” We are also subject to increasing competition from new technologies and business models, including new Internet-based telecommunications technologies as well as competition from competitors from other industries, such as Internet service providers, mobile device manufacturers and mobile software developers, who compete against us in the area of value-added businesses by offering mobile Internet access and other mobile services and are taking up an increasing share of the value chain of the telecommunications industry. See “— Changes in technology and business models may render our current technologies and business model absolute and thus affect our business and market position.” Further increased competition could reduce the rate at which we add new customers to our network and decrease our market share as customers choose to receive mobile telecommunications services from other providers. Our customer base grew at a lower rate in 2010 than in prior years. Furthermore, our market share decreased slightly to approximately 69.3% as of December 31, 2010. We cannot assure you that we will not experience increases in churn rates as competition intensifies, which may materially reduce our profitability as we may incur significant additional selling expenses to retain and attract new customers. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that any potential change, and in particular, any further restructuring in the competitive landscape of the telecommunications industry in Mainland China would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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The TD-SCDMA industry chain is still at a developing stage. As a result, we have encountered and may continue to encounter challenges in the deployment of our 3G services, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We are committed to pursuing our 3G business based on the Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access, or TD-SCDMA, technology. As a result, our ability to deploy and deliver our 3G services depends, to a large extent, on the TD-SCDMA technology. The TD-SCDMA industry chain has undergone substantial development in 2010. However, if the evolution of the TD-SCDMA industry chain does not meet the requirements of the operation of our 3G business, we may not be able to effectively and economically deliver our 3G services based on this technology. Furthermore, we face intense competition in the delivery of 3G services from our competitors, which are delivering 3G services using Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, or WCDMA, and Code Division Multiple Access 2000, or CDMA2000, technologies, both of which are perceived to be more mature 3G technologies that have been used widely in western Europe and the United States and may offer more effective global roaming or other services to customers. If the TD-SCDMA technology proves not to be widely adopted, our ability to attract and retain customers or offer services to our customers may be limited, our business and prospects will suffer and our revenues and profitability could be materially and adversely affected. We may not be able to successfully overcome our current challenges, including gaining sufficient popularity among potential customers, and may encounter new challenges in the development of our 3G business, and the deployment of our 3G services may not proceed according to anticipated schedules.

In addition, we have made substantial investments and incurred significant expenses in the development of our 3G services, including the leasing of network capacity from our parent company, China Mobile Communications Corporation, or CMCC, and the development of our 3G market. We expect to continue making significant investments in the construction of our core mobile telecommunications network and related systems and facilities, which will be used for both our 2G and 3G services. Accordingly, the amount of our capital expenditures in future years could remain high. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Capital Expenditures” for more information on our expected capital expenditures. If the deployment of our 3G business does not reach anticipated scale, or if we encounter other challenges in the provision of our 3G services, our ability to realize benefits from our significant capital investment in our networks and 3G services will be limited, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Failure to capitalize on new business opportunities may substantially reduce our growth potential.

We may pursue acquisitions or otherwise make investments in other business opportunities as such opportunities arise. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in pursuing such acquisitions or investments or will otherwise be able to successfully integrate any acquired business into our existing operations. Our ability to capture new business opportunities may also depend on the availability of sufficient financing from internal as well as external sources. Any failure to capitalize on new business opportunities may have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, as well as materially reduce our future profitability and growth.

In October 2010, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary China Mobile Group Guangdong Co., Ltd., or Guangdong Mobile, acquired 20% of the enlarged share capital of SPD Bank for an aggregate amount of RMB39.5 billion (approximately US$6.0 billion). In connection with this acquisition, we entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with SPD Bank in November 2010, pursuant to which we will cooperate with SPD Bank in the areas of mobile finance and mobile e-Commerce businesses such as mobile payment which includes on-site payment and remote payment as well as in the sharing of customers services and channels resources. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Business Overview — Investment in, and strategic cooperation with, SPD Bank.” SPD Bank’s profitability is impacted to some extent by macroeconomic conditions and changes in monetary and fiscal policies in Mainland China, and we cannot assure you that our investment in SPD Bank will achieve the desired level of return. In addition, any strategic cooperation may not produce the intended benefits due to a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including the lack of a well-developed consumer market for mobile e-Commerce in Mainland China. Moreover, we cannot assure you that the banking regulatory authorities of the PRC would not require any approvals in connection with any of the mobile communications, mobile finance and e-Commerce products that we may develop in the future or that we will be able to obtain all necessary approvals in order for us to achieve the expected benefits from our cooperation with SPD Bank. If we encounter difficulties in carrying out our cooperation with SPD Bank, the prospects of the mobile finance and mobile e-Commerce businesses contemplated to be jointly developed by us and SPD Bank may be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, expected benefits from our investment in networks, licenses and new technologies may not be realized.

 

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In March 2011, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary China Mobile Communication Co., Ltd., or CMC, acquired from CMCC, ZTE Corporation, or ZTE, Eastern Communications Co., Ltd., Beijing Digital China Limited, Ningbo Bird Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd. all of the share capital of Topssion, a mobile handsets and devices sales and distribution company in Mainland China, for an aggregate purchase price of RMB237,070,000 (approximately US$35.9 million). We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully integrate the business of Topssion into our value chain and achieve the expected benefits of this acquisition.

Changes in technology and business models may render our current technologies and business model obsolete and thus affect our business and market position.

The telecommunications industry is characterized by rapidly changing and increasingly complex technologies. Accordingly, although we strive to keep our technologies up to international standards, the mobile telecommunications technologies that we currently employ may become obsolete. We are also subject to increasing competition from new technologies and business models, including new Internet-based telecommunications technologies as well as competition from competitors from other industries, such as Internet service providers, mobile device manufacturers and mobile software developers, who compete against us in the area of value-added businesses by offering mobile Internet access and other mobile services and are taking up an increasing share of the value chain of the telecommunications industry. The intensified competitive landscape requires us to implement new technologies and develop new businesses in order to maintain our share of the value chain of the telecommunications industry and to adapt to the evolving value chain.

Moreover, there has been a significant increase in recent years in the use of mobile phones by our customers to access the Internet, which has caused an unprecedented increase in data traffic. The substantial increase in data traffic significantly strains the existing capacity of our telecommunications network infrastructure. The development and application of new technologies involves time, substantial costs and risks. We may encounter unexpected technological difficulties or risks in developing and implementing new technologies, including any next generation mobile technology, such as the TDD mode long-term evolution, or TD-LTE, technology, and as a result may incur substantial cost or service disruptions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In addition, our future success will depend partly on our ability to offer services that address the market demand arising from new growth opportunities in the broader telecommunications industry. We may not be able to successfully develop or obtain new technologies to effectively and economically deliver these services. Furthermore, we may not be able to compete successfully in the delivery of telecommunications services based on new technologies.

Any failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations and the market prices of our shares and ADSs.

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reasonable assurance with respect to our financial reports and to prevent fraud. We are required to comply with various Hong Kong and U.S. laws, rules and regulations on internal controls, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In particular, Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that we include a report of management on our internal control over financial reporting in our annual reports on Form 20-F that contains an assessment by our management of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm must issue an auditor’s report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

Internal controls may not prevent or detect misstatements because of their inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error, the circumvention or overriding of controls, or fraud. In addition, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in operating conditions or a deterioration in the degree of compliance with our policies or procedures. As a result, even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, our management may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting. Moreover, even if our management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm may disagree. If our independent registered public accounting firm is not satisfied with our internal control over financial reporting or the level at which our controls are designed or operated, or if the independent registered public accounting firm interprets the requirements, rules or regulations differently from us, it may decline to express an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting or may issue a negative opinion. Any of these possible outcomes could result in a loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our consolidated financial statements, which could cause the market prices of our ordinary shares and ADSs to decline significantly. In addition, any deficiency in our internal control over financial reporting could expose us to increased risk of fraud or misuse of corporate assets and subject us to potential delisting from the New York Stock Exchange, regulatory investigations and civil or criminal sanctions.

 

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We are controlled by CMCC, which may not always act in our best interest.

As of March 31, 2011, CMCC indirectly owned approximately 74.20% of our outstanding shares. Accordingly, CMCC is, and will be, able to:

 

   

nominate substantially all of the members of our board of directors and, in turn, indirectly influence the selection of our senior management;

 

   

control the timing and amount of our dividend payments; and

 

   

otherwise control or influence actions that require approvals of our shareholders.

The interests of CMCC as our ultimate controlling person may conflict with the interests of our minority shareholders. In particular, CMCC may take actions with respect to our business that may not be in our other shareholders’ best interest.

In addition, CMCC provides our operating subsidiaries in Mainland China with services that are necessary for our business activities. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview of Our Operations—Our Operating Arrangements with CMCC Have Affected and May Continue to Affect Our Financial Results.” Furthermore, we operate our 3G business pursuant to arrangements with CMCC, which was granted a license by the PRC government to operate a 3G business based on the TD-SCDMA technology. The interests of CMCC as the provider of these services to our operating subsidiaries in Mainland China may conflict with the interests of us or our other shareholders.

We may conduct a public offering and listing of our shares in Mainland China, which may result in increased regulatory scrutiny and compliance costs as well as increased fluctuations in the prices of our ordinary shares and ADSs listed in overseas markets.

We may conduct a public offering and listing of our shares on a stock exchange in Mainland China. We have not set a specific timetable or decided on any specific form for an offering in the PRC. The precise timing of the offering and listing of our shares in Mainland China would depend on a number of factors, including the receipt of relevant regulatory approvals and market conditions. In particular, the rules applicable to the potential offering and listing shares in Mainland China of companies incorporated outside of China are yet to be promulgated. If our public offering in Mainland China is completed, we would become subject to the applicable laws, rules and regulations governing public companies listed in Mainland China, in addition to the various laws, rules and regulations that we are currently subject to in Hong Kong and the United States. The listing and trading of our securities in multiple jurisdictions and multiple markets may lead to increased compliance costs for us, and we face the risk of significant intervention by regulatory authorities in these jurisdictions and markets.

In addition, under the current PRC laws, rules and regulations, our ordinary shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange will not be interchangeable or fungible with any shares we decide to list on a Mainland China stock exchange, and there is no trading or settlement between these two markets. Furthermore, these two markets have different trading characteristics and investor bases, including different levels of retail and institutional participation. As a result of these differences, the trading prices of our ordinary shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange may not be the same as the trading prices of any shares we decide to list on a Mainland China stock exchange. The issuance of a separate class of shares and fluctuations in its trading price may also lead to increased volatility in, and may otherwise materially and adversely affect, the prices of our ordinary shares and ADSs listed in overseas markets.

 

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Our future network capacity growth may be constrained by the frequency spectrum available to us.

A mobile telecommunications network’s capacity is to a certain extent limited by the amount of frequency spectrum available for its use. Since the MIIT controls the allocation of frequency spectrum to mobile telecommunications operators in Mainland China, the capacity of our mobile telecommunications network is limited by the amount of spectrum that the MIIT allocates to our parent company, CMCC. For our GSM network, the MIIT has allocated a total of 45 MHz of spectrum to be used for transmission and reception, respectively, to our parent company, CMCC. Of the 45 MHz of spectrum allocated to us, 40 MHz in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHZ frequency bands is allocated for use nationwide, and 5 MHz in the 1800 MHz frequency band is allocated for use in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu and Guangdong province. In connection with our 3G business, the MIIT has allocated to CMCC a total of 35 MHz of spectrum to be used for nationwide coverage, and an additional 50 MHz of spectrum to be used for indoor coverage. Under the existing agreement between CMCC and us, we have the exclusive rights among mobile telecommunications services providers to use the allocated frequency spectrum in Mainland China.

We believe that our current spectrum allocation is sufficient for anticipated customer growth in the near term. However, we may need additional spectrum to accommodate future customer growth or to develop mobile telecommunications services using new wireless telecommunications technologies, and, we may not be able to obtain additional spectrum from the MIIT. Our network expansion plans may be affected if we are unable to obtain additional spectrum. This could in turn constrain our future network capacity growth and materially and adversely affect our business and prospects as well as our financial condition and results of operations.

Since our services require interconnection with networks of other operators, disruption in interconnections with those networks could have a material adverse effect on our business, profitability and growth.

Our mobile telecommunications services depend, in large part, upon our interconnection arrangements and access to other networks. Interconnection is necessary in the case of all calls between our customers and customers of other networks. We have entered into interconnection and transmission line leasing agreements with other operators. Any disruption on our interconnection with the networks of other operators with which we interconnect due to technical or competitive reasons may affect our operations, service quality and customer satisfaction, and in turn our business and results of operations. In addition, any obstacles in existing interconnection arrangements and leased line agreements or any change in their terms, as a result of natural events, accidents, or for regulatory, technological, competitive or other reasons, could lead to temporary service disruptions and increased costs that can severely jeopardize our operations and materially decrease our profitability and growth.

Risks Relating to the Telecommunications Industry in Mainland China

We are subject to extensive government regulation and may be materially affected by any change in the regulatory environment, especially in the telecommunications industry, in the PRC.

As a telecommunications operator in China, we are subject to regulation by, and under the supervision of, the MIIT, the primary regulator of the telecommunications industry in China. Other PRC government authorities also take part in regulating the telecommunications industry in areas such as tariff policies and foreign investment. The regulatory framework within which we operate may limit our flexibility to respond to changes in market conditions or competition, including changes in our cost structure. For instance, we cannot predict when or if changes in tariff policies or rates may occur. Future adverse changes in tariff policies and rates could significantly decrease our revenues and materially reduce our profitability.

The MIIT, under the direction of the State Council, has been preparing a draft telecommunications law, which, once adopted, will become the fundamental telecommunications statute and the legal basis for telecommunications regulations in Mainland China. In 2000, the State Council promulgated a set of telecommunications regulations, or the Telecommunications Regulations, that apply in the interim period prior to the adoption of the telecommunications law. Although we expect that the telecommunications law will positively affect the overall development of the telecommunications industry in Mainland China, we do not fully know what will be its nature and scope. The telecommunications law and other new telecommunications regulations or rules may contain provisions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We operate our businesses with approvals granted by the State Council and under licenses granted by the MIIT. We also have arrangements with CMCC, our parent company, under which we operate a 3G telecommunications business based on a 3G license granted to CMCC by the MIIT. If the conditions or other obligations relating to these approvals or licenses are amended in a manner that is detrimental to us, our business and operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

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Current or future asymmetrical and other regulatory measures adopted by the PRC regulatory authorities could materially harm our competitive position.

The PRC government has in the past extended favorable regulatory policies to some of our competitors in order to help them become more viable competitors to us. Under the restructuring initiatives relating to the telecommunications industry in Mainland China announced in May 2008, the PRC government may also implement necessary asymmetrical regulatory measures over a period of time, in order to optimize the allocation of telecommunications resources in the PRC and improve the competitive landscape. In particular, the PRC government encourages the offering of roaming services across different mobile telecommunications networks, and the prices at which the mobile telecommunications services providers may settle for these inter-network roaming services would be initially set by the PRC regulatory authorities. We cannot predict at this point in time the impact, if any, such offering of roaming services or other measures may have on our business and prospects. In addition, the PRC government may implement other asymmetrical regulatory measures. For example, a one-way mobile number portability policy is currently under trial implementation in Hainan Province, which allows our 2G customers to switch to services of China Unicom or China Telecom while being able to retain their existing mobile numbers. A two-way mobile number portability policy is also under trial implementation in Tianjin, which allows our 2G customers, as well as the 2G and 3G customers of China Unicom and China Telecom, to switch to services of another telecommunications services provider while being able to retain their existing mobile numbers. The implementation of asymmetrical regulatory measures could materially harm our competitive position, which could in turn significantly reduce our revenues and profitability, and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

The PRC government may require major operators, including us, to provide universal services with specified obligations, and we may not be compensated adequately for providing these services.

Under the Telecommunications Regulations, telecommunications operators in Mainland China are required to fulfill universal service obligations in accordance with relevant regulations to be promulgated by the PRC government, and the MIIT has the authority to delineate the scope of these service obligations. The MIIT, together with other PRC governmental authorities, is also responsible for formulating administrative rules relating to the establishment of a universal service fund and compensation schemes for universal services. These rules have not yet been promulgated, and there are currently no specific regulatory requirements relating to the provision of universal services in Mainland China.

While the scope of specific universal services obligations is not yet clear, we believe that these services may include mandatory provision of basic mobile telecommunications services in less economically developed areas in Mainland China and mandatory contribution to a universal service fund. In addition, as part of the transitional measure prior to the formalization of a universal service obligation framework, the MIIT has required major telecommunications services providers in Mainland China, including CMCC, to participate in a project to provide basic telecommunications services in remote villages in Mainland China.

We cannot predict whether we will be required to provide universal services in the future and, if so, whether we will be adequately compensated by the government or by the universal service fund. We also cannot assure you whether we will be required to make contribution to the universal service fund. Any of these events could reduce our revenues and/or net income.

Our share price has been and may continue to be volatile in response to conditions in the global securities markets generally and in the telecommunications and technology sectors in particular.

Our share price has been subject to significant volatility, due in part to highly volatile securities markets, particularly for telecommunications companies’ shares, as well as variations in our sales and profit from operations. Factors other than our results of operations that may affect our share price include, among other things, overall market conditions and performance, market expectations of our performance, projected growth in the mobile telecommunications market in Mainland China and adverse changes in our brand value. In addition, our share price may be affected by factors such as the level of business activity or perceived growth (or the lack thereof) in the telecommunications market in general, the performance of other telecommunications companies, announcements by or the results of operations of our competitors, customers and suppliers and new technologies, products and services. See “Item 9. The Offer and Listing” for information regarding the trading price history of our ordinary shares and ADSs.

 

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Actual or perceived health risks associated with the use of mobile devices could impair our ability to retain and attract customers, reduce wireless telecommunications usage or result in litigation.

There continues to be public speculation about possible health risks to individuals from exposure to electromagnetic fields from base stations and from the use of mobile devices. While a substantial amount of scientific research conducted to date by various independent research bodies has shown that radio signals, at levels within the limits prescribed by public health authority safety standards and recommendations, present no adverse effect to human health, we cannot be certain that future studies, irrespective of their relative reliability or trustworthiness, will not impute a link between electromagnetic fields and adverse health effects. Research into these issues is ongoing by government agencies, international health organizations and other scientific bodies in order to develop a better scientific understanding and public awareness of these issues. In addition, several wireless industry participants were the targets of lawsuits alleging various health consequences as a result of wireless phone usage or seeking protective measures. While we are not aware of any scientific studies or objective evidence which substantiates such alleged health risks, we cannot assure you that the actual, or perceived, risks associated with radio wave transmission will not impair our ability to retain customers and attract new customers, reduce wireless telecommunications usage or result in litigation.

Risks Relating to Mainland China

An economic slowdown in Mainland China may reduce the demand for our services and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects.

We conduct most of our business and generate substantially all our revenues in Mainland China. As a result, economic, political and legal developments in Mainland China have a significant effect on our financial condition and results of operations, as well as our future prospects. In recent years, Mainland China has been one of the world’s fastest growing economies in terms of gross domestic product, or GDP, growth. If China’s economic growth slows down, there will be reduced business activities and reduced demand for our services, which could materially and adversely affect our business, as well as our financial condition and results of operations.

The PRC legal system contains uncertainties which could limit the legal protections available to our shareholders.

Most of our operating subsidiaries are organized under the laws of the PRC and are subject to laws, rules and regulations applicable to foreign-invested enterprises in China. The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which decided legal cases may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since 1979, the PRC government has promulgated laws, rules and regulations dealing with economic matters, such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, commerce, property, taxation and trade. However, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the relatively limited volume of published cases and their non-binding nature, interpretation and/or enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations involves uncertainties, which may limit the remedies available to our investors and to us in the event of any claims or disputes with third parties. In addition, any litigation in the PRC may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. Consequently, the protection provided by the PRC legal system may not be the same as the legal protection available to investors in the United States or elsewhere. Furthermore, various uncertainties involved in the rulemaking, interpretation and enforcement process of the laws, rules and regulations in the PRC that are related to our business and operations, particularly those relating to telecommunications and enterprise income tax, may also materially and adversely affect our financial condition, result of operations and prospects.

Natural disasters and health hazards in China may severely disrupt our business and operations and may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Several natural disasters have struck Mainland China in recent years. Our network equipment, including our base stations, in the affected areas sustained extensive damages in some of these natural disasters, leading to service stoppage and other disruptions in our operations in those areas. We are unable to predict the effect, if any, that any future natural disasters and health hazards may have on our business. Any future natural disasters and health hazards may, among other things, significantly disrupt our ability to adequately staff our business, and may generally disrupt our operations. Furthermore, such natural disasters and health hazards may severely restrict the level of economic activity in affected areas, which may in turn materially and adversely affect our business and prospects. As a result, any natural disasters or health hazards in China may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Item 4. Information on the Company.

We provide a full range of mobile telecommunications services in all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and directly-administered municipalities in Mainland China as well as in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, or Hong Kong. As of December 31, 2010, the total population residing in Mainland China was approximately 1.3 billion. Based on publicly available information, we are the leading provider of mobile telecommunications services in Mainland China and the largest provider of mobile telecommunications services in the world as measured by total number of customers as of December 31, 2010. As of the same date, our total number of customers reached 584 million, representing approximately 69.3% of all mobile customers in Mainland China. As of March 31, 2011, our total number of customers reached approximately 600.8 million.

The History and Development of the Company

We were incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong on September 3, 1997 as a limited liability company under the name “China Telecom (Hong Kong) Limited”. We changed our name to “China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited” on June 28, 2000 and to “China Mobile Limited” on May 29, 2006 after obtaining the approval of our shareholders.

We completed our initial public offering in October 1997. Our ordinary shares are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and our American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, each currently representing the right to receive five ordinary shares, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Expansion Through Acquisitions

Our initial mobile telecommunications operations included those in Guangdong Province and Zhejiang Province, conducted by Guangdong Mobile Communication Company Limited (currently known as China Mobile Group Guangdong Co., Ltd.) and Zhejiang Mobile Communication Company Limited (currently known as China Mobile Group Zhejiang Co., Ltd.), or Zhejiang Mobile, respectively. As part of the restructuring in preparation for our initial public offering in 1997, the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications transferred to us a 100% equity interest in Guangdong Mobile and a 99.63% equity interest in Zhejiang Mobile. We subsequently increased our shareholding in Zhejiang Mobile to 100%.

We carried out a series of acquisitions between 1998 and 2004, through which we acquired from CMCC, our indirect controlling shareholder, mobile telecommunications operations conducted by its other regional subsidiaries. As a result, we significantly expanded the geographical coverage of our operations to all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and directly-administered municipalities in Mainland China.

In addition, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of China Resources Peoples Telephone Company Limited (currently known as China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited, or Hong Kong Mobile), a mobile telecommunications services provider based in Hong Kong, on March 28, 2006 for a total purchase price of approximately HK$3,384 million (US$436 million). As a result, Hong Kong Mobile became our wholly-owned subsidiary.

In March 2011, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, CMC, acquired from CMCC, ZTE, Eastern Communications Co., Ltd., Beijing Digital China Limited, Ningbo Bird Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd. all of the share capital of Topssion, a company primarily engaged in the business of sales of mobile phone handsets and devices, for an aggregate purchase price of RMB237,070,000 (approximately US$35.9 million). As a result, Topssion became our wholly-owned subsidiary.

These acquisitions have significantly enlarged our customer base and expanded the geographical coverage of our business. The integration of these acquired operations has also enabled us to realize synergies and economies of scale.

 

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Industry Restructuring and Changes in Our Shareholding Structure

Prior to 1993, all public telecommunications networks and services in Mainland China were controlled and operated by the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications through the former Directorate General of Telecommunications, provincial telecommunications administrations and their city and county level bureaus.

Between 1993 and 2008, the telecommunication industry of Mainland China underwent significant reforms and restructuring that resulted in improved competitive environment and enhanced regulation of the industry.

In March 2008, the MIIT was created as the industry regulator providing industry policy guidance and exercising regulatory authority over all telecommunications services providers in Mainland China, including, among others, formulating and enforcing industry policy, standards and regulations, granting telecommunications licenses and permits, formulating interconnection and settlement standards for implementation between telecommunications networks, formulating tariff and service charge standards for certain telecommunications services together with other relevant regulatory authorities, supervising the operations of telecommunications services providers, promoting fair and orderly market competition among operators, and allocating and administering public telecommunications resources.

On May 24, 2008, the MIIT, the NDRC and the MOF issued a joint announcement relating to the further reform of the telecommunications industry in Mainland China, which led to a future restructuring of the then-existing telecommunication services providers. The restructuring resulted in: (i) the acquisition by China Telecom of the CDMA network (including both assets and customer base) then owned by China United Telecommunications Corporation in July 2008; (ii) the merger between China United Telecommunications Corporation and China Netcom to form China Unicom in January 2009; (iii) the transfer of the basic telecommunications services business then operated by China Satellite into China Telecom; and (iv) the consolidation of China Tietong Telecommunications Corporation, or China Tietong, into CMCC in July 2008.

On January 7, 2009, the MIIT issued a CDMA 2000 3G license to China Telecom, a WCDMA 3G license to China Unicom and a TD-SCDMA 3G license to CMCC, our parent company.

As a result of the industry restructuring in 2008 and early 2009, principal participants in the telecommunications industry in Mainland China, other than China Tietong and us, currently also include China Telecom and China Unicom. China Telecom and China Unicom currently operate both mobile and fixed-line telecommunications services. We currently operate mobile telecommunications services, while China Tietong currently operates fixed-line telecommunications services.

Organizational Structure

As of March 31, 2011, CMCC, a company incorporated in China, owned 74.20% equity interest in us through intermediate holding companies. We operate in all thirty-one provinces, autonomous regions and directly-administered municipalities throughout Mainland China and in Hong Kong. As of March 31, 2011, we owned, directly or through intermediate holding companies, 100% equity interests in the following companies:

 

   

China Mobile Group Guangdong Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Zhejiang Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Jiangsu Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Fujian Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Henan Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Hainan Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Beijing Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Shanghai Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Tianjin Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Hebei Co., Ltd.;

 

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China Mobile Group Liaoning Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Shandong Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Guangxi Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Anhui Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Jiangxi Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Chongqing Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Sichuan Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Hubei Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Hunan Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Shaanxi Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Shanxi Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Neimenggu Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Jilin Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Heilongjiang Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Guizhou Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Yunnan Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Xizang Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Gansu Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Qinghai Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Ningxia Co., Ltd ;

 

   

China Mobile Group Xinjiang Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Group Design Institute Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.;

 

   

China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited;

 

   

China Mobile International Limited; and

 

   

China Topssion Communication Co., Ltd.

In addition, we own a 66.41% equity interest in Aspire Holdings Limited, or Aspire, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

General Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 60th Floor, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong, China; telephone: 852-3121-8888. We also maintain a regional headquarters in each of our regional mobile telecommunications companies in Mainland China and Hong Kong. Our web site address is www.chinamobileltd.com. The information on our web site is not a part of this annual report on Form 20-F.

Business Overview

We offer mobile telecommunications services principally using the Global System for Mobile Communications, or GSM, standard. GSM is a pan-European mobile telecommunications system based on digital transmission and mobile telecommunications network architecture with roaming capabilities. Our GSM networks reach virtually all cities and counties and major roads and highways, as well as a substantial part of rural areas, throughout Mainland China and, through the network of Hong Kong Mobile, a substantial part of Hong Kong.

 

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Starting from January 7, 2009, we also offer mobile telecommunications services using the TD-SCDMA standard. We operate our 3G business based on a core mobile telecommunications network that is shared by both our 2G and 3G businesses and TD-SCDMA wireless network capacity leased from CMCC. See “— Mobile Telecommunications Networks” below. CMCC’s TD-SCDMA wireless network covered 656 cities in Mainland China as of December 31, 2010, representing almost all county-level or above cities nationwide.

In addition, we complement our network with, and provide our customers with high-speed Internet access through, wireless local area networks, or WLAN, at our WLAN hotspots located in major cities in Mainland China. As of December 31, 2010, we had 56,500 WLAN hotspots at such locations as airports, hotels, conference centers, schools and exhibition centers in major cities in Mainland China. We believe that our WLAN network effectively carries part of the data traffic in connection with our data value-added services and helps alleviate the strain on our network.

Our Business Strategy

As a pioneer and the market leader in the world’s largest mobile telecommunications market, we intend to enhance our businesses in the mobile telecommunications market by innovatively developing new customers and new voice usage and value-added business opportunities.

We intend to further penetrate into the individual customer market by enhancing our mobile Internet services as a media, further promoting the multi-functionalities of mobile handsets and better integrating mobile handsets into our individual customers’ daily lives.

In the corporate arena, we plan to strengthen our efforts in developing applications for the “Internet of Things,” which is a network of objects equipped with identifying devices, such as SIM cards, sensors and two-dimensional codes, and connected to a wireless network that is capable of enabling information exchange between objects. We believe the “Internet of Things” will further enhance the informatization of the manufacturing industry, the service industry, government functions and other sectors of the society and the economy.

Moreover, we will continue to expand both the geographic coverage and the service offerings of our 3G services and to accelerate the development of the TD-LTE technology, which is a standard for the evolution of the TD-SCDMA technology.

Customers and Usage

Our customer base has grown substantially from approximately 522.3 million at the end of 2009 to approximately 584.0 million at the end of 2010. As of December 31, 2010, we had a market share of approximately 69.3% in Mainland China. As of March 31, 2011, our total number of customers reached approximately 600.8 million, and approximately 27.0 million of our customers used 3G terminals. Our customer growth is primarily attributable to a number of factors, including:

 

   

economic growth in our markets, including in rural areas;

 

   

the PRC government’s promotion of “informatization” and reform and development initiatives targeting the rural areas of Mainland China;

 

   

growth potential in the central and western regions as well as small and medium-sized cities, rural areas and migrant population markets;

 

   

decreased cost of initiating services due to a decline in handset prices as well as the decrease in other tariffs for our services;

 

   

our increased marketing and sales efforts and new business initiatives; and

 

   

our competitive advantages in terms of scale of operations, networks, support systems, brands, marketing and sales channels and services.

We continued to experience growth in our corporate customer base in 2010. As of December 31, 2010, the total number of our corporate accounts reached 2.93 million, and the number of individual customers served under corporate accounts reached 36.1% of our total customer base.

However, our customer base grew at a lower rate in 2010 than in prior years. Due to the increasing mobile penetration rate and intensified competition among mobile telecommunications operators and from competitors in other related industries, our customer base may not continue to grow as fast as it has been over the past few years, if at all.

 

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Our total voice usage reached 3,461.6 billion minutes in 2010, representing an increase of approximately 18.6% from 2009. As of December 31, 2010, the number of our value-added business customers reached 523.4 million, which was an increase of approximately 12.9% compared to December 31, 2009. Our SMS usage reached 711.0 billion messages in 2010, representing an increase of approximately 4.4% from 2009. Furthermore, Mobile Internet Access usage reached 103.1 billion megabytes in 2010, representing an increase of approximately 112.3% from 2009.

The following table sets forth selected historical information about our customer base and customer usage as of or for the periods indicated.

 

     As of or for the year ended
December 31,
 
     2008      2009      2010  

Customer Base (in millions)

     457.3         522.3         584.0   
                          

Total Voice Usage (in billions of minutes)

     2,441.3         2,918.7         3,461.6   
                          

Average Minutes of Usage Per User Per Month (minutes)(1)

     492         494         521   
                          

Average Revenue Per User Per Month (RMB)(2)

     83         77         73   
                          

Average Monthly Churn Rate (%)(3)

     2.71         3.30         3.22   
                          

 

(1) Calculated by (A) dividing the total minutes of usage during the relevant year by the average number of customers during the year (calculated as the average of the numbers of customers at the end of each of the thirteen calendar months from the end of the previous year to the end of the current year) and (B) dividing the result by 12.
(2) Calculated by (A) dividing the operating revenue during the relevant year by the average number of customers during the year (calculated in the same manner as in note (1) above) and (B) dividing the result by 12. The operating revenue in 2008, 2009 and 2010 is derived from our consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively.
(3) Measures the monthly rate of customer disconnections from mobile telecommunications services, determined by dividing: (A) the result obtained by dividing (i) the sum of voluntary and involuntary terminations from our network (excluding internal transfer) during the relevant year by (ii) the average number of customers during the year (calculated in the same manner as in note (1) above) by (B) 12. On this basis, our calculated average monthly churn rate will be affected by the number of voluntary and involuntary terminations and growth in our customer base.

Businesses

Our businesses primarily consist of voice business and value-added business.

Voice Business. Our voice business focuses on enabling our customers make and receive calls with a mobile phone at any point within the coverage area of our mobile telecommunications networks. The services include local calls, domestic long distance calls, international long distance calls, domestic roaming and international roaming. Our voice business has continued to grow, and total voice usage increased approximately 18.6% in 2010 compared to 2009.

Value-Added Business. Our value-added business includes voice value-added services, short message services, or SMS, Mobile Internet Access business and other data businesses.

Our voice value-added services mainly include caller identity display, caller restrictions, call waiting, call forwarding, call holding, voice mail, conference calls and other services.

Our SMS mainly includes customer-to-customer messages, corporate SMS, “Monternet”–based short messages and others.

Our Mobile Internet Access business is a service provided by us to our customers that enables wireless access to the Internet through mobile phones and data cards.

Our other data businesses mainly include Wireless Music (including “Color Ring”), multimedia messaging service (including Mobile Paper), or MMS, “Fetion”, “12580 Integrated Information Service Line”, Mobile Reading, Mobile Gaming, “139 Mailbox”, “139 Community”, Mobile Video, Mobile Payment/Wallet, Mobile TV, Mobile Market and Internet Data Center, or IDC.

 

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We believe that value-added business, in particular data business, will continue to be one of the fastest growing segments of the telecommunications market in Mainland China over the next several years. In 2010, we increased the promotion of our value-added business by providing customers with diversified and personalized services. Revenue from our value-added business increased to RMB151,435 million in 2010, representing an increase of 15.2% from 2009. As a percentage of operating revenue, revenue generated from value-added business increased to 31.2% in 2010 from 29.1% in 2009. As of December 31, 2010, the number of our value-added business users reached 523.4 million, which represented a 12.9% increase compared to 463.4 million users as of December 31, 2009. We continued to maintain a leading position in value-added business in Mainland China during 2010, in terms of revenue from value-added business.

We plan to continue our expansion into regions with lower penetration rate and the development of new applications for SMS, “Color Ring” and MMS to further stimulate the growth of these businesses. In addition, we seek to continue driving the growth momentum of our more mature data products, such as Mobile Internet Access, Wireless Music, Mobile Paper, “Fetion” and “12580 Integrated Information Service Line”, and to focus on expanding the customer base for our other key data products, such as Mobile Reading, Mobile Gaming, “139 Mailbox”, “139 Community”, Mobile Video, Mobile Payment/Wallet and Mobile TV. At the same time, we expect to continue optimizing our products and applications and offering new businesses.

We also plan to continue promoting industry-specific applications of value-added business to corporate customers to further enhance the penetration and utilization of value-added business. During 2010, we further strengthened and broadened the scope of key industry-specific application solutions to cover major sectors of the society and the economy. These efforts, coupled with our efforts to enhance service quality and improve customer relationship, led to an expansion of our customer base among multi-provincial and multi-national corporations. We also expanded our M2M and Mobile e-Commerce businesses in different areas involving our corporate customers. As of December 31, 2010, the total number of our corporate accounts reached 2.93 million.

Mobile Internet Access. We experienced a significant growth in our Mobile Internet Access business in 2010, with our Mobile Internet Access usage reaching 103.1 billion megabytes in 2010, representing a 112.3% increase compared to 2009. Revenue generated from Mobile Internet Access services reached RMB30,530 million in 2010, compared to RMB20,435 million in 2009.

Wireless Music (including “Color Ring”). Wireless Music refers to a service that provides music services to customers through mobile telecommunications networks. “Color Ring” refers to the service where customers can customize the answer ring tone from a wide selection of songs, melodies, sound effects or voice recordings to replace the monotonous ring connecting tone that the caller would hear. In 2010, we continued our efforts in business model innovation and strengthened our cooperation with the music media to stimulate and direct customers to try out, use and get accustomed to wireless music products based on “Color Ring”, “IVR for Wireless Music” and “Ringtone Download”. We recorded 213 million times of music downloads in 2010. Revenue generated from our Wireless Music (including “Color Ring”) business reached RMB20,345 million in 2010, compared to RMB18,512 million in 2009.

MMS (including Mobile Paper). MMS is a technology that allows users to exchange multimedia communications, such as graphics, animated color pictures, sound files and short text messages, over wireless networks. Mobile Paper is a business that we have developed in cooperation with mainstream media in Mainland China and elsewhere, which provides customers with updated information services (including contents such as news, sports, entertainment, cultural activities and lifestyle) through MMS, Mobile Internet Access and other types of services. Revenue generated from MMS (including Mobile Paper) business reached RMB3,540 million in 2010, compared to RMB3,306 million in 2009. As of December 31, 2010, the number of registered customers of Mobile Paper was approximately 72.8 million (including 41.5 million paying customers who subscribed to Mobile Paper via our central platform for information broadcasted nationwide, compared to 49.1 million as of December 31, 2009).

SMS. SMS refers to services that employ the existing resources of GSM networks and the corresponding functions of mobile telecommunications terminals to deliver and receive text messages, including customer-to-customer messages, corporate SMS, “Monternet”-based short messages and others. SMS offers convenience and multi-functionality to our customers. Our short message usage reached 711.0 billion messages in 2010 from 681.2 billion messages in 2009, and revenue generated from our SMS business reached RMB52,615 million in 2010, compared to RMB53,557 million in 2009.

 

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“Fetion”. “Fetion” enables mobile customers to communicate instantly through various means, including SMS, for chatting, dating or interactive entertainment. Our “Fetion” business continued to grow significantly in 2010. The number of active customers of “Fetion” reached 78.4 million as of December 31, 2010, compared to 62.6 million as of December 31, 2009.

Our other value-added businesses, including “12580 Integrated Information Service Line”, Mobile Reading, Mobile Gaming, “139 Mailbox”, “139 Community”, Mobile Video, Mobile Payment/Wallet and Mobile TV, also experienced rapid growth in 2010, and we have strengthened our efforts in developing other new products and applications in our value-added business. As of December 31, 2010, the cumulative number of registered accounts of Mobile Market reached 35 million, with the number of application downloads from Mobile Market reaching 110 million. As of December 31, 2010, the cumulative number of software developers for our Mobile Market reached 1.10 million, with the number of applications of various types available on Mobile Market reaching 50,000. With the total number of our M2M terminals exceeding 6.9 million in 2010, we are determined to continue to develop and promote the application of the “Internet of Things”. We believe that all these new products and applications have enhanced, and will continue to enhance, our value-added business.

Tariffs

The tariffs payable by our customers include primarily usage charges, monthly fees (if applicable) and service fees for voice value-added services and data services. Effective on January 1, 2010, when not using roaming services, our customers incur usage charges in the form of either local usage charges or, for outgoing domestic and international long distance calls, domestic and international long distance charges. When using domestic roaming services, our customers incur either domestic roaming usage charges or, for outgoing international long distance calls, international long distance charges. When using international roaming services, our customers incur charges based on tariffs that vary depending on whether it is an incoming call or an outgoing call and on the destination of the call. We also have flexible long distance tariff plans distinguishing between day time and night time usage, and offer tailored service plans based upon customer requirements as well as our network resources.

We offer our customers a variety of tariff packages that have varied monthly charges, minimum charges for basic usage, charges for usage exceeding the covered basic usage, fixed charges for selected features and functions, as well as charges for voice value-added services. We also offer different tariff packages with respect to SMS, Mobile Internet Access and each of the other data businesses. Given the rapid growth in mobile penetration rates and increased competition, in order to remain competitive in terms of price and performance with other mobile telecommunications operators, we provide certain discounts and promotional offers in and during certain service areas and call periods targeting various customers. These discounts and promotional offers mainly include rewards for the pre-payment of fees, free trials of voice value-added services or data services, tariff discounts during off-peak hours and in low-traffic areas, and tariff discounts for specified call recipients.

The level and categorization of most of our current tariffs are subject to regulation by various government authorities. The MIIT has gradually liberalized the tariff level by allowing telecommunications service providers to set tariffs below certain tariff ceilings and permitting them to group their products and services, which could essentially lower the actual price for certain products and services included in the plan. The MIIT has also been encouraging mobile telecommunications operators in Mainland China to implement the caller-party-pays regime. See “— Regulation — Tariff Setting” included elsewhere under this Item. We generally expect usage volume to increase as a result of decreases in tariffs.

Interconnection

Interconnection refers to various arrangements that permit the connection of our networks to other mobile or fixed-line networks. These agreements provide for the sharing and settlement of revenues from the local usage charges and, if applicable, roaming usage charges and domestic and international long distance charges.

Our networks interconnect with the networks of other operators, which enables our customers to communicate with the customers of those operators and to make and receive local, domestic and international long distance calls. Each of our operating subsidiaries has interconnection agreements with those operators in its service area. The economic terms of these agreements are standardized from province to province.

 

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Roaming

We provide roaming services to our customers, which allow them to access mobile telecommunications services while they are physically outside of their registered service area or in the coverage areas of other mobile telecommunications networks in other countries and regions with which we have roaming arrangements. As of December 31, 2010, our GSM global roaming services covered 237 countries and regions, while our general packet radio service, or GPRS, global roaming services coverage was extended to 186 countries and regions.

A mobile customer using domestic roaming services is charged at our per-minute roaming usage charges or, for outgoing international long distance calls, international long distance charges. A mobile customer using international roaming services incur charges based on tariffs that vary depending on whether it is an incoming call or an outgoing call and on the destination of the call. In recent years, our international and domestic roaming usage charges have generally declined, resulting in lower average revenue per minute from roaming services. In March 2008, the PRC regulators reduced the maximum rate at which a mobile telecommunications services provider may charge on domestic roaming services. In December 2009, the PRC regulators further promulgated policies to eliminate domestic roaming usage charges on outgoing international long distance calls when domestic roaming services are used. We believe that the decrease in roaming usage charges helped drive growth in voice volume usage and that growth in voice volume usage helped partially offset the negative impact of the decline in roaming usage charges.

Research and Development

Our research and development efforts, undertaken jointly by our research institute and other relevant departments and business units, primarily focus on:

 

   

developing advanced business solutions and end-to-end data application solutions suitable for the consumer markets in Mainland China;

 

   

monitoring technological trends, including advancement in the new generation of mobile telecommunications technologies, which may have an impact on the development of our current business and the implementation of our wireless data strategy; and

 

   

researching post-TD-SCDMA technologies and promote the synchronized development and compatibility of TD-LTE and FDD LTE technologies, the two models of the LTE technology.

SOFTBANK Corp., Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Cellco Partnership (doing business as Verizon Wireless) and we jointly invested in JIL to promote the development of new mobile technologies, applications and services, particularly the rapidly growing area of mobile Internet services.

We have applied for a number of patents in Mainland China. Moreover, we have submitted to international standardization organizations a number of contributions, many of which have been accepted. In light of the increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving telecommunications market in Mainland China, we expect to continue to devote resources to the research and development of new products, services and technology applications.

Sales and Customer Services

Sales Channels. We offer our services through an extensive network of proprietary sales outlets, retail outlets and online and telephone sales and marketing channels. In addition to providing retail sales and network connection services, most of our proprietary sales outlets also offer differentiated services to customers under different service brands, including billing information and payment collection, services consultation, handset repair and other customer services. Furthermore, most of our proprietary sales outlets provide training and service demonstrations to retail outlets. The retail outlets offer our services according to agency agreements with us. In connection with these sales, all applicable fees payable after initial connection are paid to us. Moreover, we offer certain online services to our customers, including, among others, subscription of voice value-added services, change of tariff plans, credit loading for pre-paid services and certain wireless data services, and redemption of “GoTone” points. Sales effected through our online and telephone sales and marketing channels have increased consistently in recent years. Furthermore, we have enhanced our service capabilities through the expansion and optimization of our proprietary sales channels, the expansion of online and telephone sales and marketing channels and the integration of resources relating to sales and marketing channels. We are able to establish sales and service networks at lower cost by utilizing existing resources in rural areas to serve and expand our customer base in these areas. We have also established concept stores in major cities within Mainland China to showcase our services and products, particularly our wireless data services, and to facilitate certain sales and marketing activities.

 

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Market Segmentation Strategy. As customers’ demands for mobile telecommunications become more varied and complex, we have conducted research on market segmentation and have launched brands and products which cater to the specific needs of different customer groups. We mainly promote three brands, each with a different focus. “GoTone” targets high to middle-end customers, “Easy own” targets the mass market and the “M-Zone” brand targets the young user group through the integration of voice and data services, in each case supported by a series of tailored service packages.

Moreover, we provide differentiated applications and services to our corporate customers under customized service contracts. As of December 31, 2010, we had signed service contracts with approximately 2.93 million corporate accounts, and individual customers served under these service contracts with corporate accounts accounted for approximately 36.1% of our total customers. With the expansion of our corporate customer base, we also seek to provide customized total solutions to these corporate customers in response to their particular requirements.

Furthermore, we have developed customized products and service packages in response to the unique consumption characteristics of rural areas, such as the “Easy own Village-only Card”, small denomination top-ups, over-the-air recharging and the Agricultural Information Service, and have developed advertising and distribution channels unique to the rural markets to promote and expand our business in the rural areas. We have also encouraged handset producers to introduce inexpensive handsets with moderate functions to lower the barrier of using mobile phones in the rural areas.

Strategies Relating to 3G Services. In 2009, we commenced the operation of our 3G services by leasing wireless network capacity from CMCC. We have been focusing on the integration of the core components of our 2G and 3G networks by employing new mechanisms, new standards and new measurements and by promoting the integration of networks, businesses and applications, which have enabled our 2G customers to upgrade to our 3G services without changing their mobile telephone numbers or SIM cards or requiring re-registration. In addition, we have enhanced our efforts to market new 3G businesses, products and applications, including through our voice, broadband data and value-added businesses, to individuals, families, corporations and those in need of industry information products. CMCC has also created an incentive fund to promote the joint research and development of TD-SCDMA terminals and chipsets with relevant manufacturers, which has contributed to the development of the TD-SCDMA industry chain. We intend to further expand our 3G services by, among other things, leveraging the support from the PRC government in terms of land use, frequency resources and construction of wireless cities. We also intend to continue promoting the TD-LTE standard within and outside the PRC and furthering the synchronized development and compatibility of TD-LTE and FDD LTE technologies. For example, we assisted CMCC in demonstrating the TD-LTE network at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai and the 16th Asian Games held in Guangzhou in 2010, preparing for large-scale trial implementation of the TD-LTE network in six cities in Mainland China and constructing a demonstration TD-LTE network in Beijing.

Customer Services. Our customer support service centers offer 24-hour staff-answering and automatic-answering service hotlines in Mainland China, dealing with customer enquiries regarding services and billing, as well as handling customer complaints. In order to retain high-value and corporate customers and enhance customer satisfaction, we offer a series of personalized and differentiated services targeted at high-value and corporate customers, including dedicated account executives, on-site visits and systems for collecting comments and handling complaints.

In 2010, we continued to optimize our customer service processes through efforts such as optimizing the design of fee packages and actively promoting electronic sales channels to remove service bottlenecks. We have also launched campaigns to improve service quality, including shortening the waiting time at sales outlets, improving the connection rate of our 10086 hotline and tightening our spam filtering measures. In addition, we implemented service measures such as alert before debiting, centralized inquiry and un-subscription function for value-added services to ensure our customers would be fully informed of the payments they would make. Our continued improvement in customer services resulted in broader customer satisfaction in 2010.

Customer Retention. Due to increasing competition, we place great emphasis on customer retention. Our strategy is to attract and retain high-value customers by providing high quality services. We have implemented a “Customer Point Reward Program”, which is a bonus point-based scheme that rewards customers according to their service consumption, loyalty and payment history. This represents an important measure by us to retain high-value customers. Customers are identified and grouped as “GoTone Diamond”, “GoTone Gold” and “GoTone Silver” card members according to their respective value contribution and points accrued. Different levels of membership entitle members to different privileges. Customers in these classifications are eligible to receive targeted rewards, including some of our own products and services, as well as those of our business partners. In 2010, we further differentiated our “GoTone” service and enhanced customer loyalty of our “GoTone” service through the targeted allocation of marketing resources. In addition, we offer special services to our “GoTone” members, including cross-region services, airport VIP services, hospital VIP services, golf clubs and handset service clubs.

 

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In developing our “M-Zone” brand, we focused on expanding our customer base, offering new services and gaining recognition as symbol of youth culture. We enhanced our brand image and the number of customers increased as a result of our increased advertising efforts and expansion of new businesses, including the launch of brand alliances and the implementation of product and service upgrades.

In addition, we further enhanced customer loyalty through a series of efforts in 2010 including, among others, entering into long-term contracts with our mid to high-end customers, offering customized services packages and improving customer services.

Churn Management. We have devised internal monitoring systems to detect customers who are prone to discontinue their subscriptions. In particular, our churn alert system prompts customer service representatives to proactively approach those customers, and customers who have recently discontinued their service, to improve customer relations and minimize churn.

Credit Control. We have implemented customer registration procedures, such as identity checks for individual customers and information checks for corporate customers, to assist in credit control. In certain situations, we require our customers to pay an advance deposit representing a pre-determined amount of usage charges before certain telecommunications services are activated. The actual usage charges incurred are verified against the balance of the amount deposited at regular intervals on a daily basis and, if there are unusual circumstances, additional measures will be implemented. Direct debit services are available in each geographical area. The accounts of contract customers are required to be settled on a monthly basis, and a late payment fee is imposed on each customer whose account balance is not settled by the monthly due date. If the customer’s account remains overdue, the customer’s services will be deactivated and such customer must pay all overdue amounts, including applicable late payment fees, to reactivate services. As a majority of our existing customers pre-pay for our services, we have limited credit risk exposure to our customers. We make an allowance for doubtful accounts based on our assessment of the recoverability of accounts receivable.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Development. We are committed to fulfilling our responsibility to the community. We have focused on energy conservation and environmental protection in many aspects of our operations. We have also strived to build an “informatization” society, help narrow the digital divide, care for the underprivileged and support philanthropic activities. We provided reliable telecommunications network support and services for the World Expo 2010 Shanghai and the 16th Asian Games held in Guangzhou. When natural disasters such as the severe earthquakes in Yushu, Qinghai province and the mudslide in Zhouqu, Gansu province hit in 2010, we reacted with timely and effective telecommunications support and services and relief efforts. In 2010, we were recognized for the third consecutive year by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, or DJSI, being the only company from Mainland China listed on DJSI. In 2010, we were also selected as a constituent of the newly launched Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series that are aimed at further raising awareness about corporate sustainability and serving increasing international interest in sustainability investment. We have been issuing the Sustainability Report (formerly known as the Corporate Social Responsibility Report) since 2007.

Information Systems

Our information systems primarily consist of a network management system, a business operation support system and a management information system. The network management system collects and processes the operating data from each network, and manages, supervises and controls our networks for safe and efficient operation. The business operation support system provides day-to-day operational support to each business unit, and is a unified and comprehensive system that enables the sharing of information resources. This system standardizes and integrates each of our sales, billing, settlement, customer service and network failure handling databases in a centralized and orderly manner. The management information system collects and processes our management information and provides support to our management personnel. In addition, this system has computerized and automated our management in finance, inventory, procurement and human resources. Furthermore, we have an internal communications network, which consists of our office automation system, our internal computer network, video conference system, telephone system and others, the combination of which supports our internal communications.

 

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Trademark

We market our services under the “CHINA MOBILE” trademark, which is the trademark we use throughout Mainland China. “CHINA MOBILE” is a registered trademark in the PRC owned by our parent company, CMCC. On January 1, 2008, we entered into a new trademark license agreement to replace the then existing trademark license agreements with CMCC. Under the new trademark license agreement, we and our operating subsidiaries have a non-exclusive right to use the “CHINA MOBILE” trademark in Mainland China and Hong Kong. No license fee is payable by us to CMCC under the agreement until December 31, 2012.

In addition, the “CHINA MOBILE” name has been registered as a trademark by CMCC in Australia, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, Vietnam, South Africa and Yemen. Furthermore, CMCC has filed applications to register the “CHINA MOBILE” name and logo as a trademark in Malaysia and Pakistan, in connection with certain goods and services. CMCC has also registered the “CHINA MOBILE” name and logo as a trademark under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks.

Mobile Telecommunications Networks

Prior to January 7, 2009, we offered mobile telecommunications services using the GSM standard. Each of our GSM networks consists of:

 

   

base stations, which are transmitters and receivers that serve as a bridge between all mobile users in a cell and connect mobile calls to the mobile switching center;

 

   

base station controllers, which connect to, and monitor and control, the base stations within each cell, performing the functions of message exchange and frequency administration;

 

   

mobile switching centers, which are central switching points to which each call is connected, and which control the base station controllers and the routing of calls;

 

   

transmission lines, which link the mobile switching centers, base station controllers, base stations and other telecommunications networks; and

 

   

software applications that drive the mobile telecommunications infrastructure.

Starting from January 7, 2009, in addition to offering mobile telecommunications services using the GSM standard, or the 2G standard, we also offer mobile telecommunications services using the TD-SCDMA standard, or the 3G standard. Our 3G business shares a core mobile telecommunications network with our 2G business. Over the past several years, we have performed a number of technological improvements and upgrading to our core mobile telecommunications network, which has evolved into an integrated network that is capable of supporting transmissions using both the 2G standard and the 3G standard. Our core mobile telecommunications network is capable of IP-based soft switching, which makes it possible to evolve into a network that supports the next generation technology. Other key network components for our 3G business include Node Bs, which contain radio transmitters and receivers that communicate directly with mobile terminals, and radio network controllers, which carry out radio resources management and are responsible for controlling the Node Bs that are connected to them.

In addition, we provide our customers with access to broadband internet connection through WLAN, which is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, at any of our hotspots in Mainland China, where access point, or AP, devices in the network transmit and receive radio frequencies for wireless enabled devices, such as mobile phones, to communicate with.

Network Capacity Expansion and Optimization Plans. Our customers currently use our 2G services, our 3G services, or both. We intend to continue our network expansion and optimization with an emphasis on improving network utilization and operating efficiency, facilitating a smooth transition between, and integration of, our 2G and 3G services, and expanding the coverage and capacity of our integrated network. Our network expansion and optimization plans depend to a large extent upon the availability of sufficient spectrum.

Spectrum. A mobile telecommunications network’s capacity is to a certain extent limited by the amount of frequency spectrum available. For our GSM network, the MIIT has allocated a total of 45 MHz of spectrum to be used for transmission and reception, respectively, to our parent company, CMCC. Of the 45 MHz of spectrum allocated to us, 40 MHz of spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands is used nationwide, and 5 MHz of spectrum in the 1800 MHz frequency band, is used in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu and Guangdong Province. In connection with our 3G business, the MIIT has allocated to CMCC a total of 35 MHz of spectrum to be used for nationwide coverage, and an additional 50 MHz of spectrum to be used for indoor coverage.

 

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Transmission Infrastructure. The physical infrastructure linking our network components and interconnecting our networks to other networks consists of transmissions lines, which provide the backbone infrastructure through which voice and data traffic is carried.

Leased Lines. Transmission lines constructed by us reached a sizeable scale through the continuous optimization of our network structure in recent years. In addition to our own transmission lines, we also lease intra-provincial and local transmission lines from other operators and pay them fees based on tariff schedules stipulated by the relevant regulatory authorities after adjusting for the discounts that we have negotiated. For the inter-provincial transmission lines we leased through CMCC from other providers, CMCC collects leasing fees from us and pays fees to the relevant transmission line providers.

Network Operations and Maintenance. We believe that we have considerable network operation and maintenance experience and technical expertise. Day-to-day traffic management, troubleshooting, system maintenance and network optimization are conducted by our experienced team of engineers and technicians. Technical staffs are available for emergency repair work 24 hours a day and we employ specialist teams for central maintenance of the networks. Most technical difficulties relating to the networks are resolved by our staff and the maintenance service providers with which we have business relationships, while our equipment suppliers also provide back-up maintenance and technical support.

Base Stations. In urban areas, our base stations are located mostly on existing structures, typically at the top of tall buildings. In rural areas, masts are often constructed for locating base stations. Typically, base stations are of limited size, as base station equipment does not generally require significant space. As of the end of 2010, the number of our 2G base stations reached 554,000, compared to 460,000 in 2009. We anticipate that we will need a significant number of new base stations in connection with the expansion of our mobile telecommunications networks. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the requisite number of base station sites on reasonable commercial terms.

In connection with the 3G wireless network capacity that we lease from CMCC, the number of CMCC’s 3G base stations in operation reached 135,000 as of the end of 2010, compared to 80,000 as of the end of 2009.

Equipment Suppliers. We select our principal suppliers from leading international and domestic manufacturers of mobile telecommunications equipment and in accordance with technical standards set by the MIIT. In 2010, we purchased our networks equipment primarily from Huawei Technologies, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE and Fiberhome.

Strategic Cooperation with Vodafone

We entered into a strategic cooperation framework agreement, on a non-exclusive and non-binding basis, with Vodafone Group Plc, or Vodafone, in February 2011, which provides for a number of cooperation arrangements between us and Vodafone, including:

 

   

the exchange and sharing of corporate management, technical and operational expertise;

   

cooperation in certain areas, including enhanced roaming services, multinational customers, co-marketing, next-generation technology, green technology, network roadmap management and joint innovation and research and development;

 

   

the introduction of global products and services for the mobile community; and

 

   

the development and implementation of standards and protocols relevant to mobile telecommunications.

Vodafone acquired approximately 3.20% of our outstanding shares in 2000 and 2002, and disposed of its entire shareholding in our company in September 2010.

 

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Strategic Alliance Agreement with PhoenixTV and Memorandum of Understanding with News Corporation and STAR Group Limited

On June 8, 2006, we entered into a strategic alliance agreement with Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Limited, or PhoenixTV, a leading satellite television operator broadcasting into Mainland China, pursuant to which we and PhoenixTV will cooperate in, among other areas, the joint development, marketing and delivery of innovative wireless content, products, services and applications. We currently have a number of cooperation initiatives underway with PhoenixTV.

In addition, we entered into a memorandum of understanding with News Corporation and STAR Group Limited on June 8, 2006 relating to a potential long-term wireless media strategic partnership as well as the exploring of various areas of cooperation, which may include the aggregation, development and marketing of multimedia content and other wireless value-added services, by combining the strength and experience of one of the largest media companies in the world and one of the largest mobile telecommunications companies in the world. We are currently working with News Corporation and STAR Group Limited on a number of cooperation initiatives.

Proposed Investment in, and Strategic Cooperation with, Far EasTone

On April 29, 2009, we entered into a share subscription agreement with Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd., or Far EasTone, one of the major mobile telecommunications operators in Taiwan, pursuant to which we would acquire 12% of the enlarged issued share capital of Far EasTone for an aggregate amount of approximately 17,773.6 million New Taiwan dollars (approximately RMB4,025.5 million or US$609.9 million, based on the respective exchange rate of 4.4152 New Taiwan dollars = RMB1.00 or 29.1400 New Taiwan dollars = US$1.00 as of December 30, 2010), subject to certain adjustments. Completion of the share subscription is subject to certain conditions, including the obtaining of all necessary regulatory approvals.

Concurrent with the share subscription agreement, we also entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Far EasTone, which would become effective upon the completion of the share subscription. Pursuant to the strategic cooperation agreement, we and Far EasTone would pursue long-term broad-based cooperation for the purpose of our mutual strategic development in a number of areas, including joint purchases, roaming, data and value-added businesses and network and technology advancement. We believe our strategic cooperation with Far EasTone would facilitate the expansion of our business in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan and help us expand the range of our services to individuals that travel between, and businesses that operate in, Mainland China and Taiwan. The strategic cooperation would also enable us to accumulate advanced technological and operational expertise in areas such as 3G and next generation technology.

Investment in, and Strategic Cooperation with, SPD Bank

In October 2010, Guangdong Mobile, our wholly-owned subsidiary, completed its acquisition of 20% of the enlarged issued share capital of SPD Bank for an aggregate amount of approximately RMB39.5 billion (approximately US$6.0 billion). SPD Bank is a joint-stock commercial bank incorporated in the PRC, with its shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

In connection with the acquisition, we and SPD Bank also entered into a strategic cooperation agreement in November 2010, pursuant to which we and SPD Bank will cooperate in the areas of mobile finance and mobile e-Commerce businesses in Mainland China, such as mobile payment, including on-site payment and remote payment, as well as in the sharing of customers services and channels resources. The term of cooperation is five years, which will be automatically renewed for successive one-year terms unless terminated. The scope of cooperation will include, but will not be limited to, the joint development of mobile payments business, mobile bank cards business and other forms of mobile finance and mobile e-Commerce businesses, the joint research and development of mobile finance software and mobile security technologies. The parties agree to jointly explore cooperation in mobile fund transfer business. The parties also agree to promote their cooperation in the areas of basic banking services and basic telecommunications services, and leverage on their respective competitive advantages to bring synergies in terms of branding, customers, channels and network platform resources into full play.

Competition

We compete with other telecommunications services providers. We are one of the three licensed mobile telecommunications services providers in Mainland China. The PRC government encourages orderly and fair competition in the telecommunications industry in Mainland China. In particular, the PRC government has extended favorable regulatory policies to some of our competitors in order to help them become more viable competitors to us. We may also face intense competition from existing operators from time to time. Our competitors launch, from time to time, promotional offers, such as handset subsidies and tariff packages, to attract customers.

 

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In May 2008, the MIIT, the NDRC and the MOF jointly announced a policy initiative to further reform the PRC telecommunications industry by encouraging the formation of three telecommunications services providers of comparable scale and standing, each with nationwide network resources, full-service capabilities and competitive strength, by way of a series of restructuring transactions. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — The History and Development of the Company — Industry Restructuring and Changes in Our Shareholding Structure.”

After completion of the industry restructuring in January 2009, China Telecom and China Unicom, each of which is now operating a mobile telecommunications network, have been benefiting from, among other things, broader customer bases, more extensive networks, greater financial and other resources and more comprehensive technological capabilities, as compared to their customer bases, networks, resources and technological capabilities prior to the industry restructuring. These factors have intensified, and could further intensify, competition. Our market share was approximately 69.3% as of December 31, 2010. In addition, pursuant to the policy initiative announced in May 2008, China Telecom and China Unicom have each become full-service telecommunications services providers that operate both fixed-line telecommunications networks and mobile telecommunications networks. We cannot predict at this point in time the precise impact that the formation of full-service telecommunications services providers may have on our business and prospects. Our competitors may also benefit from any asymmetrical regulatory measures that may be adopted by the PRC government from time to time. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business — Competition from other telecommunications services providers and competitors in other related industries may further increase, which may reduce our market share and decrease our profit margin, and we cannot assure you that any potential change in the competitive landscape of the telecommunications industry in Mainland China would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Telecommunications Industry in Mainland China — Current or future asymmetrical and other regulatory measures adopted by the PRC regulatory authorities could materially harm our competitive position.”

Nonetheless, given the customer growth potential in the central and western regions of Mainland China, as well as in the small and medium-sized cities and rural areas, we believe there is substantial growth potential for our mobile telecommunications business. In particular, we believe that the industry restructuring that commenced in 2008 will help optimize the allocation of telecommunications resources and help create a fair, orderly, transparent and healthy telecommunications market. Despite existing and future competition, we believe the following factors have contributed to our customer quality compared to that of our existing competitors and we seek to continue developing our competitive advantages on the basis of these factors:

 

   

our economies of scale;

 

   

our high-quality mobile telecommunications networks;

 

   

our advanced and flexible support systems;

 

   

our widely-recognized brand name and logo that are closely identified with us by consumers;

 

   

our broad distribution networks and our focus on customer services;

 

   

our extensive range of value-added business;

 

   

our experienced management team and seasoned employees;

 

   

our strong capabilities of execution and innovation; and

 

   

our financial resources.

Regulation

The mobile telecommunications industry in Mainland China is highly regulated. Regulations issued or implemented by the State Council, the MIIT and other relevant government authorities including the NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce, encompass all key aspects of mobile telecommunications network operations, including entry into the telecommunications industry, scope of permissible business, interconnection and transmission line arrangements, technology and equipment standards, tariff standards, capital investment priorities, foreign investment policies and spectrum and numbering resources allocation.

 

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The MIIT, under the supervision of the State Council, is responsible for formulating policies and regulations for the telecommunications industry, granting telecommunications licenses, allocating frequency spectrum and numbers, formulating interconnection and settlement arrangements between telecommunications operators, and enforcing industry regulations.

In order to provide a uniform regulatory framework to encourage the orderly development of the telecommunications industry, the MIIT, under the direction of the State Council, has been preparing a draft telecommunications law. We expect that, if and when the telecommunications law is adopted by the National People’s Congress, it will become the basic telecommunications statute and the legal source of telecommunications regulations in Mainland China. In addition, the State Council promulgated a set of telecommunications regulations on September 25, 2000. These regulations apply in the interim period prior to the adoption of the telecommunications law. Although we expect that the telecommunications law will have a positive effect on the overall development of the telecommunications industry in Mainland China, we cannot predict what the ultimate nature and scope of the telecommunications law will be.

Entry into the Industry. Under the current regulations, operators of mobile telecommunications networks, providers of other basic telecommunications services such as local and long distance fixed-line telephone services, and value-added service providers whose telecommunications services cover two or more provinces, directly-administered municipalities or autonomous regions in Mainland China must apply for specific permits from the MIIT in order to provide such services. Granting of permits for providing basic telecommunications services will be through a tendering process. In addition to us, China Telecom and China Unicom are currently also authorized to provide mobile telecommunications services in all provinces, directly-administered municipalities and autonomous regions in China.

Pursuant to China’s commitments under the WTO and the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-Funded Telecommunications Enterprises, which became effective on January 1, 2002, foreign investors may invest in joint ventures that provide telecommunications services in Mainland China. However, these investments will presumably bear no direct relation to the issuance of licenses to providers of telecommunications services in Mainland China, as the issuance of new licenses by the relevant authority is governed by a separate set of rules and regulations. Pursuant to the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-Funded Telecommunications Enterprises, as amended in September 2008, foreign ownership in a telecommunications enterprise may be gradually increased to 49% if such enterprise provides basic telecommunications services and 50% if such enterprise provides value-added telecommunications services (including radio paging services).

The MIIT has promulgated the Administrative Measures for the Licensing of Telecommunication Business Operations, which became effective on April 10, 2009. Those regulations apply to the application for, and examination and approval of, telecommunications business licenses in the PRC.

Spectrum Usage. In coordination with the relevant provincial authorities, the MIIT regulates the allocation of radio frequency. The frequency assigned to an entity is not allowed to be leased or, without approval of the MIIT, transferred by the entity to any other third party. In accordance with a joint circular from the NDRC and the MOF, CMCC has entered into an agreement with us that specifies the amount of fees to be paid to the MIIT for spectrum usage by each mobile telecommunications network operator based on the bandwidth of the frequency used and the number of base stations within the relevant operator’s networks.

Spectrum usage fees for GSM networks are currently charged at the annual rate of RMB17 million per MHz for the 900 MHz frequency band and RMB15 million per MHz for the 1800 MHz frequency band. Spectrum usage fees are charged on the basis that upward and downward frequencies are separately charged. The relevant regulatory authorities in China may review these fee arrangements in the future.

 

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Numbering Resources. The MIIT is responsible for the administration of the telecommunications numbering resources within Mainland China, including the telecommunications network numbers and customer numbers. The use of numbering resources by any telecommunications operator is subject to the approval by the MIIT. In January 2003, the former Ministry of Information Industry, or the MII, issued the Measures on Administration of Telecommunications Network Numbering Resources. In accordance with these measures, the telecommunications network numbering resources are owned by the state, and a user of numbering resources is required to pay a usage fee to the state starting March 1, 2003. The measures also provide for procedures for application for the use, upgrade and adjustment of numbering resources by telecommunications operators. In December 2004, the MII, the MOF and the NDRC jointly issued the Provisional Administrative Measures with respect to the Collection of the Usage Fee of Telecommunications Network Numbering Resources, under which telecommunications companies are required to pay a usage fee to the PRC government by the 10th day of the first month of each quarter. Moreover, under these provisional measures, mobile telecommunications companies are required to pay an annual usage fee of RMB12 million for each network number.

Tariff Setting. Our tariffs are subject to regulation by various government authorities, including the MIIT, the NDRC and the relevant price regulatory authorities in Mainland China. Under the current telecommunications regulations, telecommunications tariffs are categorized into market based tariffs, government guidance tariffs and government standard tariffs. As a general matter, the actual price range in each service area is proposed by a network operator in that service area, and must be approved by the relevant price regulatory authorities in that service area. In addition, local usage charges, monthly fees, maximum domestic roaming usage charges and maximum domestic long distance tariffs (other than tariffs for IP phone calls) are also determined generally by the MIIT in consultation with the NDRC. In August 2005, the MII amended its tariff regulations relating to certain telecommunications services, which gave network operators more flexibility in setting, among other things, their domestic and international long distance tariffs and domestic roaming usage charges, provided that these tariffs and charges do not exceed the respective maximum tariffs it determined in consultation with the NDRC and that the tariff plans are filed with the MII (and, currently, with the MIIT) and the NDRC or, in some cases, the relevant price regulatory authorities at the provincial level.

The MIIT has continued encouraging mobile telecommunications operators in Mainland China to implement the caller-party-pays regime, and mobile telecommunications operators, including us, have been implementing the caller-party-pays regime. In particular, all of the new calling plan packages that we have been offering in Mainland China since the beginning of 2007 are based on tariffs substantially equivalent to the caller-party-pays regime.

In March 2008, the MII reduced the maximum domestic roaming usage charges that a mobile telecommunications services provider may charge on roaming services. In December 2009, the PRC regulators further promulgated policies to eliminate domestic roaming usage charges on outgoing international long distance calls when domestic roaming services are used, as well as eliminate local usage charges on outgoing domestic and international long distance calls when roaming services are not used.

Our international roaming usage charges are set in accordance with agreements between CMCC and the relevant foreign mobile operators. Under the current telecommunications regulations, tariffs for those telecommunications businesses that are considered fully competitive may be set by the service providers as market based tariffs.

Interconnection Arrangements and Lease Line Arrangements. Under the current telecommunications regulations, parties seeking interconnection must enter into an interconnection agreement and file such agreement with the MIIT. In addition, major telecommunications services providers that have control over essential telecommunications infrastructure and possess significant market share must allow interconnection to their networks by other operators. These telecommunications services providers must also establish interconnection rules and procedures based on the principles of non-discrimination and transparency and submit such rules and procedures to the MIIT for approval. The termination of any interconnection arrangements will require prior approval by the MIIT.

The applicable regulations provide that interconnection related equipment must conform to the technical standards approved by the MIIT. See “— Technical Standards” below. The MIIT also determines the standard lease tariffs to be paid by telecommunications operators with respect to the leasing of transmission lines that facilitate interconnection between telecommunications networks.

 

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Technical Standards. Certain regulatory authorities in Mainland China, including the MIIT, set technical standards and control the type and quality of mobile telecommunications equipment used in or connected to public networks, all radio telecommunications equipment and all interconnection related equipment.

The establishment of base stations requires the approval of the relevant provincial regulatory authorities. We have not experienced and do not expect to experience material difficulty in obtaining permission to establish additional sites.

Capital Investment. We may be required to obtain approvals from relevant regulatory authorities in Mainland China with respect to some of our investment projects.

Sharing of Telecommunications Infrastructure. In September 2008, the MIIT and the SASAC jointly issued a Notice on Promoting Joint Construction and Sharing of Telecommunications Infrastructure, which stipulates that the telecommunications operators in Mainland China must share existing transmission towers and masts and jointly construct future transmission towers and masts. The joint notice also requires the telecommunications operators to share and jointly construct base station facilities and transmission lines to the extent feasible, and prohibits exclusive arrangements in the leasing of third-party sites and premises. CMCC, China Unicom and China Telecom have subsequently entered into an agreement to set out the framework under which they will jointly construct and share relevant telecommunications infrastructure.

Convergence of Telecom, Broadcasting and Internet Businesses. In January 2010, the PRC government announced a policy decision, or the Three-Network-Convergence Policy, to accelerate the advancement of the convergence of television and radio broadcasting, telecommunications and Internet access businesses in order to realize interconnection and resource sharing between the three networks and further develop the provision of voice, data, television and other services. Specifically, the Three-Network Convergence Policy will be initially carried out on a trial basis in selective geographic locations between 2010 and 2012 and further implemented on a larger scale in 2013 through 2015. The PRC government may amend the relevant regulations or promulgate new regulations in order to implement the Three-Network Convergence Policy. The new policy decision is expected to enhance the development of information industries, satisfy consumers’ diverse demands, promote domestic consumption and form new areas for economic growth.

Employees

As of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, we had 138,368, 145,954 and 164,336 employees, respectively. Substantially all of our employees are located in Mainland China. The employees as of December 31, 2010 were classified in the following table. Approximately 85.2% of our permanent employees have college or graduate degrees. Set forth below is a breakdown of our employees by function as of December 31, 2010.

 

Management

     27,980   

Technical and engineering

     47,614   

Sales and marketing

     82,170   

Financial and accounting

     6,572   
        

Total

     164,336   
        

We provide benefits to certain employees, including housing, retirement benefits and hospital, maternity, disability and dependent medical care benefits. Most of our employees are members of a labor association. We have not experienced any strikes, slowdowns or labor disputes that have interfered with our operations to date, and we believe that our relations with our employees are good.

The number of workers sourced by third parties that provided services to us reached 313,143 as of December 31, 2010.

Properties, Plants and Equipment

We own, lease or have usage rights in various properties which consist of land and buildings for offices, administrative centers, staff quarters, retail outlets and technical facilities. We believe that all of our owned and leased properties are well maintained and are suitable and adequate for their present use.

 

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Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.

You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, together with the related notes, included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.

Overview of Our Operations

The following table sets forth selected information about our operations for the periods indicated.

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2008      2009      2010  

Total Voice Usage (in billions of minutes)

     2,441.3         2,918.7         3,461.6   

Total Operating Revenue (in RMB millions)

     411,810         452,103         485,231   

Total Operating Expenses (in RMB millions)

     269,415         305,095         334,477   

Profit Attributable to Equity Shareholders (in RMB millions)

     112,627         115,166         119,640   

In 2008, 2009 and 2010, our customer base and voice usage volume continued to experience considerable growth. Our total net increase in number of customers exceeded 61.73 million during 2010 and our total customer base reached 584.0 million as of December 31, 2010. Our total voice usage increased by 19.6% from 2008 to 2009, and by 18.6% in 2010. As a result, our total operating revenue increased by 9.8% from 2008 to 2009, and by 7.3% in 2010. Our value-added business continued to grow, accounting for 29.1% and 31.2% of our total operating revenue in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Our total operating expenses increased by 13.2% from 2008 to 2009, and by 9.6% in 2010. Our profit attributable to equity shareholders increased by 2.3% from 2008 to 2009, and by 3.9% in 2010.

The PRC economy continued to grow in terms of GDP by more than 10% in 2010, which provided a favorable environment for our continued business development. However, following the restructuring of the telecommunications industry and the issuance of the 3G licenses, market competition in the telecommunications industry in Mainland China has intensified. As the mobile penetration rate in Mainland China reached 64.4% as of December 31, 2010, the mobile telecommunications markets in some economically developed regions of Mainland China also began to show signs of saturation. As a result, our customer base and operating revenue grew at a slower pace in 2010 than in prior years. We intend to continue to cope with market and industry challenges that may arise from time to time by leveraging our customer base, network quality, brand name and execution capabilities. Moreover, although the overall mobile penetration rate in Mainland China is increasing, the mobile penetration rate in rural areas remains relatively low. We believe that there remains potential for continued growth in our customer base and our business.

We have been a mobile telecommunications services provider in China since our inception in 1997. We acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Hong Kong Mobile in 2006, which enabled us to expand into the Hong Kong mobile telecommunications market. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — The History and Development of the Company — Expansion Through Acquisitions.”

We operate in an extensively regulated environment and our operations and financial performance are significantly affected by the PRC government’s regulation of the telecommunications industry. These regulations and policies may affect, among other things, our tariffs, technology and equipment standards and capital investment, as described in more detail under “Item 4. Information on the Company — Business Overview — Regulation.” In addition, we believe that the industry restructuring that took place in 2008 has had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the competitive landscape of the telecommunications industry in Mainland China, and competition from other telecommunications services providers may intensify. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business — Competition from other telecommunications services providers and competitors in other related industries may further increase, which may reduce our market share and decrease our profit margin, and we cannot assure you that any potential change in the competitive landscape of the telecommunications industry in Mainland China would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Telecommunications Industry in Mainland China — Current or future asymmetrical and other regulatory measures adopted by the PRC regulatory authorities could materially harm our competitive position.” Our financial performance is also subject to the economic and social conditions in Mainland China. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Mainland China — An economic slowdown in Mainland China may reduce the demand for our services and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects.”

 

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Our Operating Arrangements with CMCC Have Affected and May Continue to Affect Our Financial Results

We have entered into agreements with CMCC with respect to, among other things, international interconnection and roaming and inter-provincial and international transmission lines leasing. Pursuant to these agreements, for the inter-provincial transmission lines we leased from other providers through CMCC, CMCC maintains its existing inter-provincial transmission line leasing arrangements with the relevant transmission line providers, and collects leasing fees from us and pays fees to the relevant transmission line providers. Moreover, under these agreements, CMCC: (i) maintains its existing settlement arrangements with respect to international interconnection and roaming with the relevant telecommunications services providers in foreign countries and regions; and (ii) collects the relevant usage fees and other fees from us or the relevant telecommunications services providers in foreign countries and regions and pays fees to the relevant mobile telecommunications services providers in foreign countries and regions or us, as the case may be.

We have also entered into a telecommunications services cooperation agreement with CMCC, pursuant to which we and CMCC provide customer development services to each other by utilizing our respective sales channels and resources, and cooperate in the provision of basic telecommunications services and value-added telecommunications services to customers of each other.

In addition, we have entered into a network capacity leasing agreement with CMCC, pursuant to which we and our operating subsidiaries lease TD-SCDMA network capacity from CMCC and pay leasing fees to CMCC.

Tariff Adjustments

The tariffs charged by PRC telecommunications operators are subject to adjustment by the PRC government. Recent adjustments include, among other things, the shortening of the billing unit for long distance charges (other than for IP-based long distance call services), the general reduction in domestic and international long distance call rates, the elimination of various surcharges and connection fees charged to new customers, a general reduction in leased line tariffs and the elimination of certain domestic roaming charges and local usage charges on long distance calls. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Business Overview — Regulation — Tariff Setting.” Moreover, we are allowed to offer our customers a variety of tariff packages which have different monthly charges, levels of basic usage and charges for usage exceeding the covered basic usage, voice value-added services, data services and other features. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Business Overview — Tariffs.”

Our average revenue per minute has generally decreased in recent years as tariffs have generally decreased. However, the growth in voice usage volume that has resulted from the general decline in tariffs has helped partially offset the adverse effect of tariff decreases on our revenue.

Our ARPU Has Declined and May Further Decline in the Future

Our ARPU decreased from RMB77 in 2009 to RMB73 in 2010, primarily due to the fact that a significant number of our new customers are users with relatively low usage of mobile telecommunications services. This decline was also due to the gradual implementation of the tariff adjustments that generally resulted in declines in tariffs. As we continue to expand our customer base, and with the continued implementation of the tariff adjustments, we expect that our ARPU will further decline.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The following discussion and analysis is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the years reported. Estimates are also used when accounting for certain items such as revenue recognition, provision for customer point reward program, allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation, amortization of other intangible assets, impairment of property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets arising from acquisitions. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

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We believe that the following critical accounting estimates and related assumptions and uncertainties inherent in our accounting policies have a more significant impact on our consolidated financial statements, either because of the significance of the financial statement elements to which they relate or because they require judgment and estimation.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable. If it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to us and the revenue and costs, if applicable, can be measured reliably, revenue is recognized in our profit or loss as follows:

(i) usage fees, value-added services fees and other operating revenue are recognized as revenue when the service is rendered;

(ii) monthly fees are recognized as revenue in the month during which the service is rendered;

(iii) deferred revenue from prepaid services is recognized as revenue when the mobile telecommunications services are delivered based upon actual usage by customers;

(iv) sales of SIM cards and handsets are recognized on delivery of goods to the customers and such amount, net of cost of goods sold, is included in other net income due to its insignificance;

(v) interest income is recognized as it accrues using the effective interest method; and

(vi) revenue from fixed price contracts is recognized using the percentage of completion method.

Provision for Customer Point Reward Program

We invite our customers to participate in a customer point reward program, or the Reward Program, which provides customers the option of electing to receive free telecommunications services or other non-cash gifts. The level of bonus points earned under the Reward Program varies depending on the customers’ service consumption, loyalty and payment history.

Starting from January 1, 2009, as a result of the adoption of IFRIC Interpretation 13, we accounted for the reward points as a separately identifiable component of the sales transactions in which the points are granted. We allocate the consideration received with respect to a sales transaction to reward points by reference to the estimated fair value of the points and defer the revenue recognition until such reward points are redeemed by the customer or the points expire.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts based upon evaluation of the recoverability of the accounts receivable and other receivables at each balance sheet date. We base our estimates on the aging of our accounts receivable and other receivable balances and our historical write-off experience, net of recoveries. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, additional allowances may be required.

Depreciation

Depreciation is based on the estimated useful lives of items of property, plant and equipment, less their estimated residual value, if any, to write off the cost of these items using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. We review the estimated useful lives and residual values of our assets annually. We determine the useful life and residual values of our assets based on our historical experience with similar assets, expected usage of the assets and anticipated technological changes with respect to those assets. Estimates and assumptions used in setting depreciable lives require both judgment and estimation. Our policies regarding accounting for these assets are set forth in note 1(h) to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.

 

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Amortization of Other Intangible Assets

Amortization of other intangible assets is calculated to write off the cost of items of other intangible assets using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives unless such lives are indefinite. We review the estimated useful lives of other intangible assets annually in order to determine the amount of amortization expense to be recorded during any reporting period. The useful lives are based on the estimated period over which future economic benefits will be received by us and taking into account any unexpected adverse changes in circumstances or events. The amortization expense for future periods is adjusted if there are significant changes from previous estimates. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment annually either individually or at the level of the cash-generating unit. Such intangible assets are not amortized. Our policies regarding accounting for these assets are set forth in note 1(f) to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.

Impairment of Property, Plant and Equipment, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Our property, plant and equipment, consisting primarily of telecommunications transceivers, switching centers, transmission and other network equipment, comprise a significant portion of our total assets. Changes in technology or industry conditions may cause the estimated period of use or the value of these assets to change. Property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances have indicated that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If any such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. In addition, for goodwill and other intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives, the recoverable amount is estimated annually whether or not there is any indication of impairment.

The recoverable amount of an asset is the greater of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset, which requires significant judgment relating to level of revenue and amount of operating costs. We use all readily available information in determining an amount that is a reasonable approximation of the recoverable amount, including estimates based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and projections of revenue and operating costs. Changes in these estimates could have a significant impact on the carrying value of the assets and could result in additional impairment charges or reversal of impairment in future periods. No impairment of property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets was recorded in 2008, 2009 or 2010.

Estimates and assumptions used in testing for recoverability require both judgment and estimation. Our policies regarding accounting for these assets and assessing their recoverability are set forth in note 1(j) to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth selected consolidated statements of comprehensive income data for the years indicated:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2008     2009     2010  
     (in millions of RMB)  

Operating revenue:

      

Usage and monthly fees

     278,608        300,632        312,349   

Value-added services fees

     113,288        131,434        151,435   

Other operating revenue

     19,914        20,037        21,447   
                        

Total operating revenue

     411,810        452,103        485,231   
                        

Operating expenses:

      

Leased lines

     2,641        3,006        3,897   

Interconnection

     22,264        21,847        21,886   

Depreciation

     71,509        80,179        86,230   

Personnel

     19,960        21,480        24,524   

Other operating expenses

     153,041        178,583        197,940   
                        

Total operating expenses

     269,415        305,095        334,477   
                        

Profit from operations

     142,395        147,008        150,754   

Other net income

     2,159        1,780        2,336   

Non-operating net income

     517        359        685   

Interest income

     6,002        5,940        5,658   

Finance costs

     (1,550     (1,243     (902

Share of profit of associate

     —          —          558   

Share of loss of jointly controlled entity

     —          (8     (18
                        

Profit before taxation

     149,523        153,836        159,071   

Taxation

     (36,735     (38,413     (39,047
                        

Profit for the year

     112,788        115,423        120,024   
                        

Attributable to:

      

Equity shareholders

     112,627        115,166        119,640   

Non-controlling interests

     161        257        384   
                        

Profit for the year

     112,788        115,423        120,024   
                        

Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2009

Operating Revenue. Our operating revenue is mainly derived from usage and monthly fees and value-added services fees. Usage and monthly fees mainly include standard local usage fees for airtime and applicable domestic and international long distance charges receivable from customers for the use of our mobile telecommunications networks and facilities, and fees in respect of roaming out calls made by our customers outside their registered service areas. Value-added services fees are mainly derived from voice value-added services, SMS, Mobile Internet Access business and other data businesses. Other operating revenue mainly represents interconnection revenue.

Operating revenue increased 7.3% from RMB452,103 million in 2009 to RMB485,231 million (US$73,520 million) in 2010. This increase was primarily due to the continued expansion in our customer base, the continued growth in voice usage volume and rapid growth of value-added businesses. Our total number of customers was approximately 584.0 million as of December 31, 2010, compared to approximately 522.3 million as of December 31, 2009.

Revenue from usage and monthly fees increased 3.9% from RMB300,632 million in 2009 to RMB312,349 million (US$47,326 million) in 2010. This increase principally resulted from the continued expansion in our customer base and the further increase in our voice usage volume during 2010. Although our average revenue per minute reflected a downward trend from RMB0.155 in 2009 to RMB0.140 in 2010, this decline was partially offset by higher growth in our voice usage volume in 2010. With the intensified market competition following the restructuring of the telecommunications industry and with further declines in tariffs, our average revenue per minute may continue to decline in future periods. However, we expect our voice usage volume to grow as the tariff declines, which we expect to help partially offset the impact of these developments on our operating revenue. As a percentage of operating revenue, usage and monthly fees decreased from 66.5% in 2009 to 64.4% in 2010.

 

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Set forth below is a table summarizing certain results of our value-added services for the periods indicated.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2009     2010  
     (Revenue, in millions of RMB)  

Voice value-added business

     24,879        30,225   

SMS business

     53,557        52,615   

Mobile Internet Access business

     20,435        30,530   

Other data businesses

     32,563        38,065   
                

Value-added services

     131,434        151,435   
                

Revenue from value-added services as a percentage of operating revenue

     29.1     31.2

Revenue from value-added services increased 15.2% from RMB131,434 million in 2009 to RMB151,435 million (US$22,945 million) in 2010. This increase was mainly due to our continued efforts in product innovation and business development. Our value-added services include voice value-added services, SMS, Mobile Internet Access business and other data businesses. Revenue generated from SMS was RMB52,615 million in 2010, compared to RMB53,557 million in 2009, representing a decrease of 1.8%, primarily due to both the development of Internet instant messaging applications and declines in voice usage tariffs, which caused our customers to choose Internet instant messaging applications or voice services over SMS, and the high penetration rate of our SMS services after years of continued growth. In addition, revenue generated from Mobile Internet Access grew substantially by 49.4% to RMB30,530 million in 2010, as compared to RMB20,435 million in 2009. The rapid growth of our other data businesses, including Wireless Music, MMS, “Fetion”, “139 Mailbox” and “12580 Integrated Information Service Line”, was an additional growth driver for our value-added services. As a percentage of operating revenue, value-added services fees increased from 29.1% in 2009 to 31.2% in 2010. We expect our value-added business, in particular Mobile Internet Access business and other data businesses, to continue to grow.

Other operating revenue increased by 7.0% from RMB20,037 million in 2009 to RMB21,447 million (US$3,250 million) in 2010. As a percentage of operating revenue, other operating revenue remained stable at 4.4% in 2009 and 2010.

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses include leased line expenses, interconnection expenses, depreciation expenses relating to our mobile telecommunications network and other property, plant and equipment, personnel expenses and other operating expenses. Other operating expenses primarily consist of selling and promotion expenses, operating lease charges, network maintenance expenses, impairment loss for doubtful accounts, write-off of property, plant and equipment that have been demolished and disconnected from our existing network, labor service expenses, administration and other miscellaneous expenses.

Operating expenses increased 9.6% from RMB305,095 million in 2009 to RMB334,477 million (US$50,678 million) in 2010. This increase, notably in other operating expenses, particularly in selling and promotion expenses and maintenance expenses, was generally in line with the continued growth in our customer base and usage volume and our ongoing efforts to deliver better quality services and to cope with intensified competition. Our operating expenses increased at a lower rate in 2010 as compared to 2009, reflecting our increased economies of scale and our continued efforts to control our operating expenses in 2010.

Leased line expenses increased 29.6% from RMB3,006 million in 2009 to RMB3,897 million (US$590 million) in 2010. This increase reflected an increase in payment of RMB356 million to CMCC in connection with the lease of its TD-SCDMA network capacity and the increase in leasing fees of Internet ports paid to other telecommunications operators as a result of the rapid development of our Internet related businesses. As a percentage of operating expenses, leased line expenses increased slightly from 1.0% in 2009 to 1.2% in 2010.

Interconnection expenses increased slightly by 0.2% from RMB21,847 million in 2009 to RMB21,886 million (US$3,316 million) in 2010. Our continuing marketing strategy to reorganize and re-route traffic volume has led to a lower proportion of inter-network traffic volume. Interconnection expenses as a percentage of operating expenses decreased from 7.2% in 2009 to 6.5% in 2010.

Depreciation expense increased 7.5% from RMB80,179 million in 2009 to RMB86,230 million (US$13,065 million) in 2010. This increase was mainly due to our continuous capital expenditures for the construction of our mobile telecommunications networks, support systems, transmission and structural facilities and the development of new technologies and new businesses to better support the growth of customer base and voice usage and to meet an unprecedented increase in demand in mobile Internet access. As a percentage of operating expenses, depreciation expense decreased from 26.3% in 2009 to 25.8% in 2010.

Personnel expenses increased 14.2% from RMB21,480 million in 2009 to RMB24,524 million (US$3,716 million) in 2010. This increase was primarily due to an increase in headcount from 145,954 at the end of 2009 to 164,336 at the end of 2010. As a percentage of operating expenses, personnel expenses increased from 7.0% in 2009 to 7.3% in 2010.

 

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Other operating expenses increased 10.8% from RMB178,583 million in 2009 to RMB197,940 million (US$29,991 million) in 2010. This increase was primarily due to increased selling and promotion expenses in 2010 as a result of our efforts in responding to market competition, developing new customers and retaining our existing customers, in particular customers with high usage of mobile telecommunications services. Our selling and promotion expenses may further increase if industry competition continues to intensify and adversely affects our customer growth and retention, and leads to higher customer acquisition and retention costs. The increase in other operating expenses was also due to an increase in maintenance expenses from RMB28,109 million in 2009 to RMB31,390 million in 2010, and an increase in operating lease charges from RMB8,751 million in 2009 to RMB9,839 million in 2010, incurred principally as a result of our continued investments in our network equipment and facilities, and an increase in labor service expenses for services provided by third parties from RMB13,577 million in 2009 to RMB15,649 million in 2010. In addition, other operating expenses were partially offset by a decrease in impairment loss for doubtful accounts from RMB4,503 million in 2009 to RMB4,019 million in 2010 and a decrease in write-off of property, plant and equipment from RMB4,493 million in 2009 to RMB2,763 million in 2010. As a percentage of operating expenses, other operating expenses increased from 58.5% in 2009 to 59.2% in 2010. For more information on our other operating expenses, see note 5 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.

Profit from Operations. As a result of the foregoing, profit from operations increased 2.5% from RMB147,008 million in 2009 to RMB150,754 million (US$22,842 million) in 2010, and operating margin (profit from operations as a percentage of operating revenue) decreased from 32.5% in 2009 to 31.1% in 2010.

Other Net Income. Other net income represents primarily net sales from SIM cards and handsets and revenue from construction contracts. These items are included in other net income due to their insignificance. Other net income increased 31.2% from RMB1,780 million in 2009 to RMB2,336 million (US$354 million) in 2010. This increase was principally due to an increase in revenue from construction contracts, which was partially offset by the decrease in net sales from sales of SIM cards and handsets.

Non-Operating Net Income. Non-operating net income increased by 90.8% from RMB359 million in 2009 to RMB685 million (US$104 million) in 2010, mainly due to a write back of accounts payable. Non-operating net income is mainly comprised of penalty income and other miscellaneous non-operating income.

Interest Income. Interest income decreased 4.7% from RMB5,940 million in 2009 to RMB5,658 million (US$857 million) in 2010. The lower interest income in 2010 was primarily due to the lower interest rate in 2010 and the decrease in our bank deposits as a result of the cash consideration paid in connection with our acquisition of an equity interest in SPD Bank.

Finance Costs. Finance costs decreased 27.4% from RMB1,243 million in 2009 to RMB902 million (US$137 million) in 2010. This decrease was primarily due to the lower interest rate in 2010. In 2010, the average interest rate that we paid on our outstanding borrowings was approximately 2.68%, compared to 3.70% in 2009.

Share of Profit of Associate. We had a share of profit of associate of RMB558 million (US$85 million) in 2010, which was attributable to our shareholding of 20% of the enlarged issued share capital of SPD Bank, compared to nil in 2009. Our share of profit of associate has been adjusted to reflect the amortization of the proportionate fair value of SPD Bank’s identifiable net assets as of the date of our investment in excess of our cost of investment.

Profit before Taxation. As a result of the foregoing, profit before tax increased 3.4% from RMB153,836 million in 2009 to RMB159,071 million (US$24,102 million) in 2010.

Taxation. Our income tax expense increased 1.7% from RMB38,413 million in 2009 to RMB39,047 million (US$5,916 million) in 2010. This increase was mainly due to an increase in our profit before taxation. Our effective tax rate was 25.0% in 2009 and 24.5% in 2010, respectively.

Profit Attributable to Equity Shareholders. As a result of the foregoing and after taking into account non-controlling interests, profit attributable to equity shareholders increased 3.9% from RMB115,166 million in 2009 to RMB119,640 million (US$18,127 million) in 2010. Net profit margin (profit attributable to equity shareholders as a percentage of operating revenue) decreased from 25.5% in 2009 to 24.7% in 2010.

 

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Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2008

Operating Revenue. Our operating revenue is mainly derived from usage and monthly fees and value-added services fees. Usage and monthly fees mainly include standard local usage fees for airtime and applicable domestic and international long distance charges receivable from customers for the use of our mobile telecommunications networks and facilities, and fees in respect of roaming out calls made by our customers outside their registered service areas. Value-added services fees are mainly derived from voice value-added services, SMS, Mobile Internet Access business and other data businesses. Other operating revenue mainly represents interconnection revenue.

Operating revenue increased 9.8% from RMB411,810 million in 2008 to RMB452,103 million in 2009. This increase was primarily due to the continued expansion in our customer base, notably in rural areas in Mainland China, and the continued growth in voice usage volume and value-added businesses. Our total number of customers was approximately 522.3 million as of December 31, 2009, compared to approximately 457.3 million as of December 31, 2008.

Revenue from usage and monthly fees increased 7.9% from RMB278,608 million in 2008 to RMB300,632 million in 2009. This increase principally resulted from the continued expansion in our customer base and the further increase in our voice usage volume during 2009. Although our average revenue per minute reflected a downward trend from RMB0.169 in 2008 to RMB0.155 in 2009, this decline was partially offset by higher growth in our voice usage volume in 2009. With the intensified market competition following the restructuring of the telecommunications industry and with further declines in tariffs, our average revenue per minute may continue to decline in future periods, but we currently expect that growth in our voice usage volume will help partially offset the impact of these developments on our operating revenue. As a percentage of operating revenue, usage and monthly fees decreased from 67.7% in 2008 to 66.5% in 2009.

Set forth below is a table summarizing the results of our value-added services for the periods indicated.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2008     2009  
     (in millions of RMB)  

Voice value-added business

     21,728        24,879   

SMS business

     50,318        53,557   

Mobile Internet Access business

     13,997        20,435   

Other data businesses

     27,245        32,563   
                

Revenue from value-added services

     113,288        131,434   
                

Revenue from value-added services as a percentage of operating revenue

     27.5     29.1

Revenue from value-added services increased 16.0% from RMB113,288 million in 2008 to RMB131,434 million in 2009. This increase was mainly due to our continued efforts in providing customers with diversified and personalized value-added services to meet their preferences and needs. Our value-added services include voice value-added services, SMS, Mobile Internet Access business and other data businesses. Revenue generated from SMS reached RMB53,557 million in 2009, as compared to RMB50,318 million in 2008, representing an increase of 6.4%. Revenue generated from the Mobile Internet Access business grew substantially by 46.0% to RMB20,435 in 2009, as compared to 2008. In addition, revenue generated from “Color Ring”, which form part of our other data businesses, grew by 7.4% to RMB15,413 million in 2009, as compared to 2008. The expansion of our customer base was an additional growth driver for our value-added services. As a percentage of operating revenue, value-added services fees increased from 27.5% in 2008 to 29.1% in 2009. We expect our value-added business to continue to grow, in particular Mobile Internet Access business and other data businesses.

Other operating revenue increased slightly by 0.6% from RMB19,914 million in 2008 to RMB20,037 million in 2009. As a percentage of operating revenue, other operating revenue decreased from 4.8% in 2008 to 4.4% in 2009.

Our ARPU decreased from RMB83 in 2008 to RMB77 in 2009, primarily due to the fact that nearly half of our new customers are from less affluent rural areas and most of them are relatively low-usage users of mobile telecommunications services. This decline was also due to the gradual implementation of the tariff adjustments.

 

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Operating Expenses. Operating expenses include leased line expenses, interconnection expenses, depreciation expenses relating to our mobile telecommunications network and other property, plant and equipment, personnel expenses and other operating expenses. Other operating expenses primarily consist of selling and promotion expenses, operating lease charges, maintenance expenses, impairment loss for doubtful accounts, disposal and write-off of property, plant and equipment that have been demolished and disconnected from our existing network, spectrum charges and numbering resources fees, labor service expenses, amortization of other intangible assets and other miscellaneous expenses.

Operating expenses increased 13.2% from RMB269,415 million in 2008 to RMB305,095 million in 2009. This increase, notably in other operating expenses, particularly in selling and promotion expenses and maintenance expenses, was generally in line with the continued growth in our customer base and our ongoing efforts to deliver better quality services and to cope with intensified competition. Our operating expenses increased at a lower rate in 2009 as compared to 2008, reflecting our continued efforts to control our operating expenses in 2009.

Leased line expenses increased 13.8% from RMB2,641 million in 2008 to RMB3,006 million in 2009. This increase reflected payments of RMB222 million to CMCC in connection with the lease of its TD-SCDMA network capacity. As a percentage of operating expenses, leased line expenses remained stable at 1.0% in 2008 and 2009.

Interconnection expenses decreased 1.9% from RMB22,264 million in 2008 to RMB21,847million in 2009. This decrease was mainly due to our marketing strategy to reorganize and re-route traffic volume, which led to a lower proportion of inter-network traffic volume. Interconnection expenses as a percentage of operating expenses decreased from 8.3% in 2008 to 7.2% in 2009.

Depreciation expense increased 12.1% from RMB71,509 million in 2008 to RMB80,179 million in 2009. This increase was mainly due to our continuous capital expenditures for the construction of our mobile telecommunications networks, support systems, transmission and structural facilities and the development of new technologies and new business. As a percentage of operating expenses, depreciation expense decreased from 26.5% in 2008 to 26.3% in 2009.

Personnel expenses increased 7.6% from RMB19,960 million in 2008 to RMB21,480 million in 2009. This increase was primarily due to an increase in headcount from 138,368 at the end of 2008 to 145,954 at the end of 2009. As a percentage of operating expenses, personnel expenses slightly decreased from 7.4% in 2008 to 7.0% in 2009.

Other operating expenses increased 16.7% from RMB153,041 million in 2008 to RMB178,583 million in 2009. This increase was primarily due to increased selling and promotion expenses in 2009 as a result of our continued efforts in promoting brand development, rewarding and retaining our existing and high-value customers, and improving customer service quality with an aim towards enhancing customer loyalty. Our selling and promotion expenses may further increase if industry competition continues to intensify and adversely affects our customer growth and customers retention, and increases our customer acquisition and retention costs. The increase in other operating expenses was also due to an increase in maintenance expenses and operating lease charges incurred in 2009, principally as a result of our continued investments in our network equipment and facilities. In addition, other operating expenses included impairment loss for doubtful accounts of RMB4,503 million in 2009 compared to RMB4,385 million in 2008, operating lease charges of RMB8,751 million in 2009 compared to RMB8,314 million in 2008, write-off of property, plant and equipment of RMB4,493 million in 2009 compared to RMB3,250 million in 2008, and labor service expenses for services provided by third parties of RMB13,577 million in 2009 compared to RMB10,156 million in 2008. As a percentage of operating expenses, other operating expenses increased from 56.8% in 2008 to 58.5% in 2009. For more information on our other operating expenses, see note 5 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.

Profit from Operations. As a result of the foregoing, profit from operations increased 3.2% from RMB142,395 million in 2008 to RMB147,008 million in 2009, and operating margin (profit from operations as a percentage of operating revenue) slightly decreased from 34.6% in 2008 to 32.5% in 2009.

Other Net Income. Other net income represents primarily gross profit from sales of SIM cards and handsets. Other net income decreased 17.6% from RMB2,159 million in 2008 to RMB1,780 million in 2009. This decrease was principally due to the declining sales of SIM cards and handsets.

Non-Operating Net Income. Non-operating net income decreased by 30.6% from RMB517 million in 2008 to RMB359 million in 2009. Non-operating net income is mainly comprised of penalty income and other miscellaneous non-operating income.

 

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Interest Income. Interest income decreased 1.0% from RMB6,002 million in 2008 to RMB5,940 million in 2009. The lower interest income in 2009 was primarily due to the lower interest rate in 2009.

Finance Costs. Finance costs decreased 19.8% from RMB1,550 million in 2008 to RMB1,243 million in 2009. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in average interest rate for deferred consideration payable, which represented the balance of the purchase consideration payable to our immediate holding company in connection with our acquisitions of eight regional mobile telecommunications companies in 2002 and ten regional mobile telecommunications companies and other telecommunications assets in 2004. In 2009, the average interest rate that we paid on our outstanding borrowings was approximately 3.70%, as compared to 4.61% in 2008.

Profit before Taxation. As a result of the foregoing, profit before tax increased 2.9% from RMB149,523 million in 2008 to RMB153,836 million in 2009.

Taxation. Our income tax expense increased 4.6% from RMB36,735 million in 2008 to RMB38,413 million in 2009. This increase was mainly due to an increase in our profit before taxation and the phase-out of certain tax benefits enjoyed by some of our subsidiaries. Our effective tax rate was 24.6% in 2008 and 25.0% in 2009, respectively.

Profit Attributable to Equity Shareholders. As a result of the foregoing and after taking into account non-controlling interests, profit attributable to equity shareholders increased 2.3% from RMB112,627 million in 2008 to RMB115,166 million in 2009. Net profit margin (profit attributable to equity shareholders as a percentage of operating revenue) decreased from 27.3% in 2008 to 25.5% in 2009.

Liquidity and Capital Resources.

Liquidity

Our principal source of liquidity is cash generated from our operations. As of December 31, 2010, we had a working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) of RMB66,252 million (US$10,038 million), compared to a working capital of RMB77,550 million as of December 31, 2009 and a working capital of RMB56,611 million as of December 31, 2008. The decrease in our working capital as of December 31, 2010 from December 31, 2009 was primarily due to the increase in our accounts payable and accrued expenses and other payables and the re-classification of guaranteed bonds due in 2011 with the aggregate principal amount of RMB5,000 million as current liabilities. As of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, accounts receivable totaled RMB6,913 million, RMB6,405 million and RMB7,632(US$1,156 million), respectively. The current portion of our finance lease obligations as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 were RMB68 million, RMB68 million and RMB68 million (US$10 million), respectively.

The following table summarizes certain cash flow information for the periods indicated.

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2008     2009     2010  
     (in millions of RMB)  

Net cash from operating activities

     193,647        207,123        231,379   

Net cash used in investing activities

     (139,026     (165,927     (171,572

Net cash used in financing activities

     (45,684     (49,774     (51,051
                        

Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     8,937        (8,578     8,756   
                        

Net cash from operating activities increased 7.0% from RMB193,647 million in 2008 to RMB207,123 million in 2009, and further increased 11.7% to RMB231,379 million (US$35,057 million) in 2010, primarily reflecting the increase in our profit before taxation resulting from the continued expansion of our customer base and the continued growth in voice usage and our value-added business.

Net cash used in investing activities increased 3.4% from RMB165,927 million in 2009 to RMB171,572 million (US$25,996 million) in 2010. This increase was primarily due to our acquisition of 20% of the enlarged share capital of SPD Bank, which was partially offset by a decrease in our bank deposit of RMB35,590 million. Net cash used in investing activities increased 19.3% from RMB139,026 million in 2008 to RMB165,927 million in 2009. This increase was primarily due to large increase in deposits with banks of RMB54,780 million in 2009 compared to RMB21,148 million in 2008, which was partially offset by a decrease in capital expenditures of RMB5,502 million, and an increase in the amount of interest received of RMB1,045 million.

 

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Net cash used in financing activities increased 2.6% from RMB49,774 million in 2009 to RMB51,051 million (US$7,735 million) in 2010. This increase was primarily due to an increase in dividend payment from RMB48,614 milion in 2009 to RMB50,201 million in 2010. Net cash used in financing activities increased 9.0% from RMB45,684 million in 2008 to RMB49,774 million in 2009. This increase was primarily due to a larger dividend payment to shareholders in 2009 compared to 2008 and a decrease in the amount of proceeds from issuance of shares under our share option scheme, partially offset by a decrease in the amount of interest paid on our outstanding bonds and deferred consideration in connection with our acquisition of regional mobile telecommunications companies in 2002 and 2004.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures incurred in 2008, 2009 and 2010 were RMB136,292 million, RMB129,367 million and RMB124,347 million (US$18,840 million), respectively. We incurred capital expenditures principally for the construction of our mobile telecommunications networks, support systems, transmission and structural facilities and the development of new technologies and new businesses. The level of our capital expenditures decreased in 2009 and 2010 primarily due to the lower investment cost per traffic unit as a result of our efforts to implement management with a higher level of centralization, standardization and informatization, as well as reflecting the needs of our business growth.

We estimate that we will incur capital expenditures of approximately RMB132.4 billion (US$20.1 billion) in 2011, RMB130.4 billion (US$19.8 billion) in 2012 and RMB125.5 billion (US$19.0 billion) in 2013. We expect that approximately 53% of our capital expenditures in 2011 will be used in the construction of infrastructure networks, approximately 14% will be used in the development of new technologies and new businesses, approximately 11% will be used in the construction of transmission facilities, approximately 7% will be used in building support systems.

We have generally funded our capital requirements primarily with cash generated from operations. We believe our available cash and cash generated from future operations will be sufficient to fund the capital expenditures and working capital necessary for the planned network expansion and continued growth of our mobile telecommunications operations through the end of 2011.

We may seek to obtain additional sources of financing to fund our network expansion and possible future acquisitions, to the extent necessary.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

Indebtedness

As of December 31, 2009 and 2010, we did not have any long-term or short-term bank and other loans, excluding the current portion of our finance lease obligations of RMB68 million and RMB68 million (US$10 million), respectively.

On June 18, 2001 our wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong Mobile, issued RMB5,000 million aggregate principal amount of guaranteed bonds due in 2011 at a floating interest rate, payable annually. As these guaranteed bonds will be due in 2011, all outstanding principal amount of these guaranteed bonds was classified as current liabilities as of December 31, 2010. These bonds are listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. We have issued an irrevocable guarantee for the performance of these bonds, and CMCC has issued a further guarantee in relation to the performance by us of our guarantee. The bonds are rated “AAA” by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Company Limited, an affiliate of Fitch International Limited. The net proceeds from the offering were applied solely to repay part of the RMB12,500 million syndicated loans we raised through our wholly-owned subsidiary, China Mobile (Shenzhen) Limited, in 2000 for our acquisition of the Beijing Mobile, Shanghai Mobile, Tianjin Mobile, Hebei Mobile, Liaoning Mobile, Shandong Mobile and Guangxi Mobile.

On October 28, 2002 Guangdong Mobile issued RMB5,000 million guaranteed bonds due 2017. These bonds commenced trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on January 22, 2003. The guaranteed bonds bear fixed interest of 4.5%, payable annually. We have issued a joint and irrevocable guarantee for the performance of these bonds, and CMCC has issued a further guarantee in relation to the performance by us of our guarantee obligation. These bonds received a consolidated credit rating of “AAA” by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Company Limited and a consolidated credit rating of “AAA” by Dagong Global Credit Rating Co. Ltd, a PRC credit rating agency. The entire net proceeds from the offering were applied solely to satisfy part of the US$2,800 million deferred consideration for the acquisition by the Company of the entire interest in Anhui Mobile, Jiangxi Mobile, Chongqing Mobile, Sichuan Mobile, Hubei Mobile, Hunan Mobile, Shaanxi Mobile and Shanxi Mobile in 2002.

 

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The deferred consideration of US$2,800 million for our acquisition of the eight regional mobile telecommunications companies in 2002 and the deferred consideration of US$1,650 million for our acquisition of the ten regional mobile telecommunications companies and other telecommunications assets in 2004 are subordinated to other senior debt owed by us from time to time. In addition, these deferred considerations are payable by the 15th anniversary of the date of the completion of the respective acquisitions, and we may make an early payment of all or part of these deferred considerations at any time without penalty. We are required to pay interest semi-annually on the actual amount of these deferred considerations unpaid from the date of completion of the respective acquisitions. Interest is calculated at the two-year U.S. dollar London Inter-Bank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, swap rate at 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second business day next preceding the date of the respective acquisition agreements for the first two years after completion of the respective acquisitions. Thereafter, the interest rate will be adjusted every two years to equal the two-year U.S. dollar LIBOR swap rate prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the relevant interest determination dates. The payment of the deferred considerations and the interest payments can be made in Hong Kong dollars (HK$7.7993=US$1.00 and HK7.7995=US$1.00 for our acquisitions of the regional mobile telecommunications companies in 2002 and 2004, respectively), RMB (RMB8.2770=US$1.00 and RMB8.2768=US$1.00 for our acquisitions of the regional mobile telecommunications companies in 2002 and 2004, respectively) or U.S. dollars (or other agreed currencies), with the relevant exchange rates set forth in the respective acquisition agreements. Any payment made in currencies other than U.S. dollars will be accounted for based on the exchange rates between U.S. dollars and such currencies prevailing at 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the day which is two business days next preceding the date of the respective acquisition agreements.

In December 2010, Standard & Poor’s upgraded our corporate credit rating to AA-/Outlook Stable which is at the same credit rating level as China’s sovereign credit rating. In November 2010, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded our credit rating to Aa3/Outlook Positive, in line with its upgrading of China’s sovereign credit rating. Any downgrade in our credit rating will not trigger any events of default on our outstanding bonds or loans or our existing credit facilities.

For a discussion of our interest rate risk, please see “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

Other Contractual Obligations and Commitments

As of December 31, 2010, we had various contractual obligations and commitments which are more fully disclosed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. The principal components of these obligations and commitments include:

 

   

our short-term and long-term debts (in addition to the bonds described under “— Indebtedness” above), which includes finance leases;

 

   

operating leases; and

 

   

capital commitments.

In the ordinary course of our business, we routinely enter into commercial commitments for various aspects of our operations, such as repair and maintenance. However, we believe that those commitments will not have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

For further disclosure regarding leases and other commitments, please see note 40 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.

 

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The following table sets forth certain information regarding our contractual obligations to make future payments (including relevant estimated interest payment) as of December 31, 2010:

 

     Payments Due by Period  

Contractual Obligations

   Total      Less than
1 year
     1 – 3
years
     3 – 5
years
     More than
5 years
 
     (in millions of RMB)  

Accounts Payable

     111,646         111,646         —           —           —     

Bills Payable

     502         502         —           —           —     

Accrued expenses and other payables

     85,716         85,716         —           —           —     

Deferred Consideration Payable

     25,233         281         428         383         24,141   

Bonds

     11,627         5,317         450         450         5,410   

Finance Lease Obligations

     71         71         —           —           —     
                                            

Total Contractual Obligations

     234,795         203,533         878         833         29,551   
                                            

The following table sets forth certain information regarding our other commercial commitments as of December 31, 2010:

 

     Amount of Commitment
Expiration Per Period
 

Other Commercial Commitments

   Total
Amount
Committed
     Less than
1 year
     1 –  3
years
     3 –  5
years
     More than
5 years
 
     (in millions of RMB)  

Operating Lease Commitments

     23,385         6,951         7,928         4,344         4,162   

Capital Commitments

     116,168         116,168         —           —           —     
                                            

Total Commercial Commitments

     139,553         123,119         7,928         4,344         4,162   
                                            

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2010, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements or any written options on non-financial assets.

Foreign Exchange

We maintain our accounts in Renminbi and substantially all of our revenue and expenses are denominated in Renminbi. All of our current operating subsidiaries are incorporated in Mainland China, except for Hong Kong Mobile. Under the current foreign exchange system in Mainland China, our subsidiaries in Mainland China may not be able to hedge effectively against currency risk, including any possible future Renminbi devaluation. See “Item 10. Additional Information — Exchange Controls.”

Each of our operating subsidiaries in Mainland China is able to purchase foreign exchange for settlement of current account transactions, as defined in applicable regulations, in order to satisfy its foreign exchange requirements.

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.

Directors and Senior Management

The following table sets forth certain information concerning our directors and senior management as of April 26, 2011.

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Mr. WANG Jianzhou    62    Executive Director and Chairman
Mr. LI Yue    52    Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. LU Xiangdong    51    Executive Director and Vice President
Mr. XUE Taohai    55    Executive Director, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Mdm. HUANG Wenlin    56    Executive Director and Vice President
Mr. SHA Yuejia    53    Executive Director and Vice President
Mr. LIU Aili    47    Executive Director and Vice President
Mdm. XIN Fanfei    54    Executive Director and Vice President
Mr. XU Long    54    Executive Director
Dr. LO Ka Shui    64    Independent Non-Executive Director
Mr. Frank K.S. WONG    63    Independent Non-Executive Director
Dr. Moses M.C. CHENG    61    Independent Non-Executive Director

 

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Mr. WANG Jianzhou has served as our Chairman and is in charge of our overall management since November 2004. Mr. Wang also served as our Chief Executive Officer from November 2004 to August 2010. He has been serving as Chairman of CMCC since May 2010 and previously served as President of CMCC. Mr. Wang is also Chairman of CMC. Prior to joining us, Mr. Wang served as Deputy Director General and Director General of the Hangzhou Posts and Telecommunications Bureau, Deputy Director General of the Zhejiang Posts and Telecommunications Administration, Director General of the Department of Planning and Construction of the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Director General of the Department of General Planning of the MII, Director, Executive Vice President, President and Chairman of China United Telecommunications Corporation, Executive Director, President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of China Unicom Limited, and Chairman and President of China United Telecommunications Corporation Limited. Mr. Wang graduated in 1985 from the Department of Management Engineering of Zhejiang University with a Master’s Degree in Engineering, and holds a doctoral degree in business administration from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Mr. Wang is a professor-level senior engineer with extensive knowledge and has over 33 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.

Mr. LI Yue has served as our Executive Director since March 2003 and our Chief Executive Officer since August, 2010. He is in charge of our operation and management. Mr. Li is also the President and director of CMCC and a director of CMC. Mr. Li previously served as Deputy Director General and Chief Engineer of Tianjin Long-Distance Telecommunications Bureau, Deputy Director General of Tianjin Posts and Telecommunications Administration, President of Tianjin Mobile Communications Company, Deputy Head of the Preparatory Team of CMCC, Vice President of CMCC, Chairman of Aspire Holdings Limited, a non-executive director of Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Ltd and Chairman of Union Mobile Pay Limited. Mr. Li graduated from the Correspondence College of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications with a Bachelor’s Degree in telephone exchange, holds a Master’s Degree in business administration from Tianjin University and a doctoral degree in business administration from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is a professor-level senior engineer and has won multiple national, provincial and ministerial level Science and Technology Advancement Awards. Mr. Li has many years of experience in the telecommunication industry, including experience in telecommunications network operations and maintenance, planning and construction, operational management and development strategies.

Mr. LU Xiangdong has served as our Executive Director and Vice President since March 2003. Mr. Lu is principally in charge of development strategy, planning and structure; and procurement matters. He has been serving as Vice President of CMCC since April 2000. Mr. Lu is also a director of CMC. He previously served as the Director General of Fujian Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, the Deputy Director General of the Mobile Telecommunications Administration of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Chairman of Aspire Holdings Limited, Chairman of Union Mobile Pay Limited and a non-executive director of Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Ltd. Mr. Lu graduated from the Academy of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications with a Master’s Degree in wireless telecommunications, and holds a doctoral degree in economics from Peking University. Mr. Lu is a professor-level senior engineer with nearly 29 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.

Mr. XUE Taohai has served as our Executive Director, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since July 2002. Mr. Xue is principally in charge of our corporate affairs, finance and internal audit. Mr. Xue is also a Vice President of CMCC and a director of CMC. Mr. Xue previously served as the Deputy Director General of the Finance Department of the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Deputy Director General of the Department of Financial Adjustment and Clearance of the MII and Deputy Director General of the former Directorate General of Telecommunications. He graduated from Henan University and received an EMBA degree from Peking University. He is a senior accountant with over 31 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and financial management.

Mdm. HUANG Wenlin has served as our Executive Director and Vice President since September 2007. Mdm. Huang is principally in charge of human resources and inspection matters. Mdm. Huang is also a Vice President of CMCC, and a director of CMC. Mdm. Huang previously served as the Director of Domestic Communications Division and Director of Communications Organization Division of the Directorate General of Telecommunications of the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Vice President of China Telecommunications Corporation and Executive Director and Executive Vice President of China Telecom Corporation Limited. Mdm. Huang graduated in 1984 from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications with a major in management engineering and received an EMBA degree from Peking University. Mdm. Huang is a senior economist with 35 years of operational and managerial experience in the telecommunications industry.

 

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Mr. SHA Yuejia has served as our Executive Director and Vice President since March 2006. Mr. Sha is principally in charge of marketing, data business and corporate customers management. He is also a Vice President of CMCC, a director of CMC, Chairman of Union Mobile Pay Limited and a non-executive director of PhoenixTV and SPD Bank. He previously served as Director of the Engineering Construction Department IV Division of Beijing Telecommunications Administration, President of Beijing Telecommunications Planning Design Institute, Deputy Director General of Beijing Telecommunications Administration, Vice President of Beijing Mobile Communications Company, and Director and Vice President, Chairman and President of Beijing Mobile. Mr. Sha graduated from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and received a Master’s Degree from the Academy of Posts and Telecommunications of the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and a doctoral degree in business administration from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is a professor-level senior engineer with over 28 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.

Mr. LIU Aili has served as our Executive Director and Vice President since March 2006. Mr. Liu is principally in charge of network operation, business support, information management, information security and industrial management matters. He is also a Vice President of CMCC, a director of CMC and a non-executive director of China Communications Services Corporation Limited. He previously served as Deputy Director General of Shandong Mobile Telecommunications Administration, Director General of Shandong Mobile Telecommunications Administration and General Manager of Shandong Mobile Communications Enterprises, Vice President of Shandong Mobile Communications Company, Director-General of Network Department of CMCC, and Chairman and President of Shandong Mobile and Zhejiang Mobile and Chairman of CMPak Limited. Mr. Liu graduated from Heilongjiang Posts and Telecommunications School with an associate degree and completed a post-graduate program in economics at Shandong University. Mr. Liu also received a Master of Management degree from Norwegian School of Management BI and a doctoral degree in business administration from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is a professor-level senior engineer with over 28 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.

Mdm. XIN Fanfei has served as our Executive Director and Vice President since January 2006. Mdm. Xin is principally in charge of the general administration and investor and media relations. She previously served as Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Division, Deputy Director of the Planning Division and Chief of the Planning Office, Director of the Planning Division, Director of the Department of Planning and Construction of Tianjin Posts and Telecommunications Administration, Vice President of Tianjin Mobile Communications Company, Director and Vice President of Tianjin Mobile, Chairwoman and President of Heilongjiang Mobile and Chairwoman of the former China Mobile Peoples Telephone Company Limited. Mdm. Xin graduated from Xidian University, and received an EMBA degree from Peking University and a Doctor of Management degree from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Mdm. Xin is a professor-level senior engineer with many years of experience in the telecommunications industry.

Mr. XU Long has served as our Executive Director since August 1999. He is also the Chairman and President of Guangdong Mobile, responsible for our business operations in Guangdong Province. He previously served as Deputy Director of Shaoxing Posts and Telecommunications Bureau, President of Zhejiang Nantian Posts and Telecommunications Group Company, Director of the General Office and Deputy Director General of the Zhejiang Posts and Telecommunications Administration, and Chairman and President of Zhejiang Mobile. He graduated from Zhejiang Radio and Television University in 1985, and holds a doctoral degree in business administration from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Mr. Xu is a senior economist with 33 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.

Dr. LO Ka Shui has served as our independent Non-Executive Director since April 2001. Dr. Lo is the Chairman and Managing Director of Great Eagle Holdings Limited, and is the non-executive director and chairman of Eagle Asset Management (CP) Limited (manager of the publicly listed Champion Real Estate Investment Trust). He is also a non-executive director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and an independent non-executive director of Shanghai Industrial Holdings Limited, Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Limited, Winsor Properties Holdings Limited and City-e-Solutions Limited. He is also a Vice President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong, a Trustee of the Hong Kong Centre for Economic Research and a Board Member of the Hong Kong Airport Authority and the Chairman of The Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies. Dr. Lo previously served as an independent non-executive director of Melco International Development Limited. Dr. Lo graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Science Degree and from Cornell University with a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Degree. He was certified in internal medicine and cardiology. He has more than 30 years of experience in property and hotel development and investment both in Hong Kong and overseas.

 

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Mr. Frank K.S. WONG has served as our independent Non-Executive Director since August 2002. Mr. Wong currently serves as an independent non-executive director of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, China and Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd, Singapore, and a non-executive director of PSA International Pte Ltd, Singapore. Mr. Wong previously served as Vice Chairman of DBS Bank, a member of the boards of DBS Bank and DBS Group Holdings and Chairman of DBS Bank (Hong Kong) and DBS Bank (China). He held a series of progressively senior positions with regional responsibility at Citibank, JP Morgan and NatWest from 1967 to 1999, and served as non-executive director of National Healthcare Group Pte Ltd. Mr. Wong has also served in various positions with Hong Kong’s government bodies including the Chairman of the Hong Kong Futures Exchange between 1993 and 1998. Mr. Wong has many years of finance and commercial management experience.

Dr. Moses M.C. CHENG has served as our independent Non-Executive Director since March 2003. Dr. Cheng is a practising solicitor and the senior partner of Messrs. P.C. Woo & Co. Dr. Cheng was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. He is the founder chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors of which he currently is the Honorary President and Chairman Emeritus. Dr. Cheng is also the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Post-service Employment of Civil Servants and currently holds directorships in City Telecom (H.K.) Limited, China COSCO Holdings Company Limited, Liu Chong Hing Investment Limited, China Resources Enterprise, Limited, Towngas China Company Limited, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Kader Holdings Company Limited, K. Wah International Holdings Limited, Guangdong Investment Limited and Tian An China Investments Company Limited, all of which are public listed companies in Hong Kong. He is also an independent non-executive director of ARA Asset Management Limited, a company with shares listed on the Singapore Exchange Limited. His other directorships in public listed companies in the last 3 years include Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited, Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited (formerly known as K. Wah Construction Materials Limited), Shui On Construction and Materials Limited and ARA Asset Management (Singapore) Limited, a company with shares listed on the Singapore Exchange Limited.

Compensation

The aggregate amount of compensation that we paid to our directors and executive officers in 2010 for services performed as directors, officers or employees was approximately HK$19 million (US$2.5 million).

We adopted a share option scheme on October 8, 1997, or the Old Scheme, pursuant to which our directors may, at their discretion, invite our employees, including executive directors, or employees of our subsidiaries, to take up options to subscribe for ordinary shares up to a maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares equal to 10% of our total issued share capital.

Pursuant to a resolution passed at the annual general meeting held on June 24, 2002, the Old Scheme was terminated and a new share option scheme, or the Current Scheme, was adopted. The purpose of the Current Scheme is to provide us with a flexible and effective means of remunerating and providing benefits to the employees, the executive directors and the non-executive directors of our company, any of our holding companies and their respective subsidiaries and any entity in which we or any of our subsidiaries holds any equity interest, thereby providing incentives to these participants. Under the Current Scheme, our board of directors may, at its discretion, invite the plan participants to take up options to subscribe for the ordinary shares of our company.

The maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares which can be subscribed pursuant to options that are or may be granted under the above schemes equals to 10% of the total issued share capital of our company as of the date of adoption of the Current Scheme. Options lapsed or cancelled in accordance with the terms of the Old Scheme or the Current Scheme will not be counted for the purpose of calculating this 10% limit.

As the Old Scheme was terminated with effect on June 24, 2002, no further options were granted under the Old Scheme thereafter. Under the Old Scheme, all options not exercised on or before October 7, 2007 have lapsed. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2010, there were no outstanding options granted under the Old Scheme. As of the same date, the total number of ordinary shares which may be issued on the exercise of the outstanding options granted or to be granted under the Current Scheme is 1,476,767,598. No share options were granted under the Current Scheme during the year ended December 31, 2010.

The consideration payable for the grant of option under the Current Scheme is HK$1.00.

 

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The exercise price of the options granted under the Current Scheme is determined by our board of directors at its discretion provided that such price may not be set below a minimum price which is the highest of:

 

  (i) the nominal value of an ordinary share;

 

  (ii) the closing price of the ordinary shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on the date on which the option was granted; and

 

  (iii) the average closing price of the ordinary shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for the five trading days immediately preceding the date on which the option was granted.

Under the Current Scheme, the term of the option is determined by the board of directors at its discretion, provided that all options shall be exercised within 10 years after the date on which the option is granted.

As of December 31, 2010, the directors and employees of our company had options to subscribe for the ordinary shares of our company granted under the Current Scheme. In 2010, 4,569,595 of these options had been exercised. See “— Share Ownership” below for details on options granted to our directors.

Board Practices

To enhance our corporate governance, we have three principal board committees, the audit committee, the remuneration committee and the nomination committee. The audit committee, the remuneration committee and the nomination committee are all comprised solely of independent non-executive directors.

Audit Committee

The members of our audit committee are Dr. Lo Ka Shui, as chairman of the committee, Mr. Frank K.S. Wong and Dr. Moses M.C. Cheng. The audit committee’s major responsibilities include:

 

   

to review the financial reports, the related report of independent registered public accounting firm and management’s responses to the reports;

 

   

to discuss the audit procedures with the independent registered public accounting firm as well as any issues arising out of such procedures;

 

   

to review the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm, the audit and non-audit fees and any matters relating to the termination or resignation of the independent registered public accounting firm; and

 

   

to examine the effectiveness of our internal controls, to review our internal audit plan and to submit relevant reports and recommendations to our Board on a regular basis.

The audit committee usually meets four times each year.

Remuneration Committee

The members of our remuneration committee are Dr. Lo Ka Shui, as chairman of the committee, Mr. Frank K.S. Wong and Dr. Moses M.C. Cheng. The remuneration committee’s major responsibilities include:

 

   

to advise the Board in relation to the remuneration structure and payments of our executive directors and executives; and

 

   

to represent the Board in confirming the individual remuneration packages and employment terms of executive directors and approving their related employment contracts.

Meetings of the remuneration committee are held at least once a year.

Nomination Committee

The members of our nomination committee are Dr. Lo Ka Shui, as chairman of the committee, Mr. Frank K.S. Wong and Dr. Moses M.C. Cheng. The primary responsibilities of the nomination committee include:

 

   

to review, advise and make recommendations to the board on the matters in relation to the appointment and re-appointment of board members; and

 

   

to ensure the proper and transparent procedures for the appointment and re-appointment of directors.

 

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Meetings of the nomination committee are held at least once a year.

Employees

See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Business Overview — Employees.”

Share Ownership

As of December 31, 2010, the following directors and members of our senior management had interests in our share capital:

Under our Memorandum and Articles of Association, our directors and senior management do not have different voting rights when compared to other holders of shares in the same class.

As of December 31, 2010, options exercisable for an aggregate of 6,911,675 shares had been granted to the following directors and members of our senior management under our share option scheme and were outstanding. As of the same date, none of these options had been exercised.

 

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The following options are exercisable at a price of HK$22.85 per share through July 2, 2012.

 

Director

   Number of shares
covered  by options
 

Sha Yuejia

     7,000   

The following options are exercisable at a price of HK$22.75 per share through October 27, 2014:

 

Director

   Number of shares
covered  by options
 

Li Yue

     154,000   

Lu Xiangdong

     154,000   

Xue Taohai

     154,000   

Sha Yuejia

     82,575   

Liu Aili

     82,600   

Xu Long

     117,000   

The following options are exercisable at a price of HK$26.75 per share through December 20, 2014:

 

Director

   Number of shares
covered  by options
 

Wang Jianzhou

     475,000   

The following options are exercisable at a price of HK$34.87 per share through November 7, 2015:

 

Director

   Number of shares
covered  by options
 

Wang Jianzhou

     970,000   

Li Yue

     780,000   

Lu Xiangdong

     780,000   

Xue Taohai

     780,000   

Sha Yuejia

     780,000   

Liu Aili

     141,500   

Xu Long

     254,000   

Lo Ka Shui

     400,000   

Frank K.S. Wong

     400,000   

Moses M.C. Cheng

     400,000   

Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.

Major Shareholders

As of March 31, 2011, approximately 74.20% of our outstanding shares were held by China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile (Hong Kong) Group Limited. CMCC, a state-owned company, holds all of the voting shares and economic interest in China Mobile (Hong Kong) Group Limited. No other persons own 5% or more of our ordinary shares. Between our initial public offering and March 31, 2011, our majority shareholders held, directly or indirectly, between approximately 74.20% and 76.50% of equity interest in us, except for brief periods following our equity offerings in 1999 and 2000 but before the issuance of consideration shares to our direct shareholder, China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited, for the related acquisitions, during which periods the shareholding was temporarily lower. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — The History and Development of the Company — Industry Restructuring and Changes in Our Shareholding Structure” for changes during the past three years with respect to our majority shareholders. Under our Memorandum and Articles of Association, our major shareholders do not have different voting rights when compared to other holders of shares in the same class.

We are not aware of any arrangement which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control over us.

 

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Related Party Transactions

As of March 31, 2011, CMCC indirectly owned an aggregate of approximately 74.20% of our issued and outstanding share capital.

We and each of our subsidiaries have entered into various related party transactions. The principal terms of the agreements for these related party transactions are described below.

Certain charges for the services under these agreements are based on tariffs set by the PRC regulatory authorities. Those transactions where the charges are not set by PRC regulatory authorities are based on commercial negotiation between the parties, in each case on an arm’s length basis.

International Roaming Arrangements

Following the completion of our acquisition of the telecommunications assets from our parent company in July 2004, we no longer have inter-provincial roaming and interconnection arrangement with CMCC (except for the interconnection arrangement with China Tietong described under “— Interconnection Settlement Arrangements” below) and the handling charge with respect to roaming and international long distance calling charges are no longer shared between CMCC and us. In addition, pursuant to an agreement we entered into with CMCC on July 1, 2004 (the “International Roaming Settlement Agreement”), CMCC maintains the existing settlement arrangements with respect to international interconnection and roaming with the relevant telecommunications services providers in foreign countries and regions, and collects the relevant usage fees and other fees from us and pays the same to the relevant mobile telecommunications services providers in foreign countries and regions.

Licensing of Trademark

CMCC is the owner of the “CHINA MOBILE” name and logo, a registered trademark in Mainland China, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, Vietnam, South Africa and Yemen. In addition, it has filed applications to register the “CHINA MOBILE” name and logo as a trademark in Malaysia and Pakistan for certain goods and services. CMCC has also registered the “CHINA MOBILE” name and logo as a trademark under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks.

On January 1, 2008, we entered into a trademark license agreement (the “2008 Trademark License Agreement”) with CMCC to replace the then existing trademark license agreements with CMCC. Under the 2008 Trademark License Agreement, we and our operating subsidiaries are granted the right to use the “CHINA MOBILE” name and logo. No license fee is payable by us to CMCC under the 2008 Trademark License Agreement until December 31, 2012.

Spectrum Fees and Numbering Resources

The MIIT (and prior to April 2008, the MII) and the MOF jointly determine the standardized spectrum fees payable to the MIIT by all mobile telecommunications operators in Mainland China, including us. In accordance with a joint circular from the NDRC and the MOF, CMCC entered into an agreement with us that specifies the amount of fees to be paid to the MIIT for spectrum usage by each mobile telecommunications network operator based on the bandwidth of the frequency used and the number of base stations within the relevant operator’s networks.

Following the completion of our acquisition of the telecommunications assets from our parent company in July 2004, we entered into an agreement with CMCC on July 1, 2004 (the “Spectrum and Numbering Resources Agreement”), pursuant to which CMCC will collect usage fees from us relating to spectrum frequency and numbering resources and make payment to the MIIT (and prior to April 2008, to the MII). In addition to transferring to us all existing frequency spectrum and numbering resources allocated to it by the MIIT, CMCC has also agreed to apply for new frequency spectrum and numbering resources upon our request or notice from time to time and transfer the relevant new frequency spectrum and numbering resources to us.

Sharing of Inter-Provincial Transmission Line Leasing Fees

Following the completion of our acquisition of the telecommunications assets from our direct parent company in July 2004, we entered into an agreement with CMCC on July 1, 2004 (the “Inter-Provincial Transmission Line Leasing Settlement Agreement”), pursuant to which CMCC maintains the existing settlement arrangements with respect to inter-provincial transmission line leasing with the relevant transmission line providers in Mainland China, and collects inter-provincial transmission line leasing fees from us and pay the same to the transmission line providers in respect of the inter-provincial transmission lines we lease from such providers.

 

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Platform Development

Aspire is 66.41% owned by us, and is our joint venture with Vodafone and Hewlett-Packard Company. Aspire entered into a platform development master agreement (the “Platform Development Agreement”) with CMCC on January 10, 2001. Under the Platform Development Agreement, Aspire (or its subsidiaries) will provide technology platform development and maintenance services to CMCC and its subsidiaries. These services include system and gateway integration services, hardware, software and system development (including development of applications), technical support and major overhaul services for a standardized, nation-wide platform for wireless data.

Under the Platform Development Agreement, CMCC will pay Aspire equipment charges, systems integration fees, software licensing fees, technical support fees and/or major overhaul charges, which will be determined according to standards laid down by the relevant governmental departments and/or by reference to market rates.

Leasing of TD-SCDMA Network Capacity

In preparation for our 3G business, we and CMCC entered into a network capacity leasing agreement on December 29, 2008 (the “Network Capacity Leasing Agreement”), pursuant to which we and our operating subsidiaries lease TD-SCDMA network capacity from CMCC and pay leasing fees to CMCC. The Network Capacity Leasing Agreement had a term of one year with effect from January 1, 2009 and would be automatically renewed for successive one-year periods unless otherwise notified by one party to the other party. We may terminate the Network Capacity Leasing Agreement by providing 60 days’ advance notice to CMCC. As the ongoing deployment and improvements to the TD-SCDMA network and in order to actively develop and promote the TD-SCDMA business, we and CMCC had agreed to renew the Network Capacity Leasing Agreement on November 6, 2009 for a term of one year commencing on January 1, 2010. In view of its expiration on December 31, 2010, the parties renewed the Network Capacity Leasing Agreement on December 21, 2010 for a further term of one year commencing on January 1, 2011.

The leasing fees will be determined on a basis that reflects our actual usage of CMCC’s TD-SCDMA network capacity and compensates CMCC for the costs of such network capacity. The amount of leasing fees payable by us to CMCC under the Network Capacity Leasing Agreement did not exceed RMB2,000 million in 2010, and it is expected that the amount of leasing fees payable by us to CMCC under the Network Capacity Leasing Agreement (as renewed) shall not exceed RMB3,000 million in 2011. The transactions contemplated under the Network Capacity Leasing Agreement constitute our continuing connected transactions under Rule 14A.34 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules and are subject to the reporting, annual review and announcement requirements, but are exempt from the independent shareholders’ approval requirements under the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

Interconnection Settlement Arrangements

As part of the industry restructuring that commenced in 2008, China Tietong became a wholly-owned subsidiary of CMCC and, as a result, our connected person.

China Tietong is a fixed-line telecommunications operator in Mainland China. From January 2002 to December 2007, CMCC entered into a series of interconnection settlement agreements (collectively, the “Interconnection Settlement Agreements”) with China Tietong to govern the interconnection of the networks of CMCC and China Tietong and the settlement of charges for various telecommunications services, including IP phone calls, long distance calls, international telephone service and dial-up service. On November 13, 2008, we, CMCC and China Tietong entered into an agreement (the “Tripartite Agreement”), pursuant to which the rights and obligations of CMCC under the Interconnection Settlement Agreements were transferred to us. Pursuant to the Tripartite Agreement, we and China Tietong will make settlement payments to each other in respect of calls made or received by their respective customers. The Tripartite Agreement expired on December 31, 2009, and pursuant to the terms thereof, unless the parties agree otherwise, upon the expiry of the term, the Tripartite Agreement shall automatically be renewed for further terms of one year. We, CMCC and China Tietong had agreed to renew Tripartite Agreement on November 6, 2009 for a term of one year commencing on January 1, 2010. In view of its expiration on December 31, 2010, the parties renewed the Tripartite Agreement on December 21, 2010 for a further term of one year commencing on January 1, 2011.

 

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The settlement charges receivable by us from China Tietong under the Tripartite Agreement in 2010 did not exceed the de minimis threshold under Rule 14A.33 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules. The settlement charges payable by us under the Tripartite Agreement did not exceed RMB480 million in 2010. It is expected that, in 2011, the aggregate amount of settlement charges payable by us to China Tietong under the Tripartite Agreement (as renewed) will not exceed RMB500 million while the aggregate amount of settlement charges receivable by us from China Tietong will not exceed the de minimis threshold under Rule 14A.33 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules. The transactions contemplated under the Tripartite Agreement constitute our continuing connected transactions under Rule 14A.34 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules and are subject to the reporting, annual review and announcement requirements, but are exempt from the independent shareholders’ approval requirements under the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

Telecommunications Services Cooperation Agreement

In order to meet the customers’ demand for one-stop shop telecommunications services, CMCC and we entered into a telecommunications services cooperation agreement on November 6, 2009 (the “Telecommunications Services Cooperation Agreement”), pursuant to which CMCC and we will provide customer development services to each other by utilizing our respective existing sales channels and resources, such as sales outlets, Internet sales network, sales personnel and local sales units, and cooperate in the provision of basic telecommunications services and value-added telecommunications services to customers of the other party. The Telecommunications Services Cooperation Agreement had a term of one year with effect from January 1, 2010 and would be renewed automatically for successive one-year periods if the parties so wish. In view of the expiry of the Telecommunications Services Cooperation Agreement on December 31, 2010, the parties have agreed to renew the Telecommunications Cooperation Agreement on December 21, 2010 for a term of one year commencing on January 1, 2011.

The amount of charges receivable by us in 2010 under the Telecommunications Services Cooperation Agreement was below the de minimis threshold under Rule 14A.33 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules. The amounts of charges payable by us in 2010 under the Telecommunications Services Cooperation Agreement did not exceed RMB1,600 million. It is expected that the aggregate amount of charges payable by us to CMCC under the Telecommunications Services Cooperation Agreement (as renewed) will not exceed RMB1,700 million while the aggregate amount of charges receivable by us from CMCC will not exceed the de minimis threshold under Rule 14A.33 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules in 2011. The transactions contemplated under the Telecommunications Services Cooperation Agreement constitute our continuing connected transactions under Rule 14A.34 of Hong Kong Listing Rules and are subject to the reporting, annual review and announcement requirements, but are exempt from the independent shareholders’ approval requirements under the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

Miscellaneous

Following the completion of our acquisition of the telecommunications assets from CMCC in July 2004, the transactions previously entered into between our subsidiaries and prior subsidiaries of CMCC which have been acquired by us no longer constitute connected transactions under the Hong Kong Listing Rules beginning on July 1, 2004 since such prior subsidiaries of CMCC became part of us on July 1, 2004. Only those transactions between us and CMCC or its subsidiaries (which have not been acquired by us) remain as connected transactions under the Hong Kong Listing Rules. In December 2004, in order to streamline the management of the connected transactions, we consolidated the agreements between us and CMCC into two agreements:

 

  (i) the Property Leasing and Management Services Agreement pursuant to which we rent from CMCC various properties for use as business premises and offices, retail outlets and machining rooms and CMCC and its subsidiaries provide to us property management services. Under this agreement, for properties owned by CMCC or its subsidiaries, the charges are determined with reference to market rates. For properties leased by CMCC or its subsidiaries from third parties and sublet to us, the charges are determined according to the actual rent payable by CMCC or its subsidiaries together with any tax payable; and

 

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  (ii) the Telecommunications Services Agreement pursuant to which our subsidiaries obtain telecommunications project planning, design and construction services, telecommunications line and pipeline construction services and telecommunications line maintenance services from CMCC and its subsidiaries. Pursuant to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, subsidiaries of CMCC sell transmission towers and spare parts and provide related installation and maintenance services to our subsidiaries. Under this agreement, the charges and prices payable are generally determined with reference to and cannot exceed relevant standards set by and revised from time to time by relevant governmental authorities in Mainland China. Where there are no such standards, the charges and prices are determined with reference to market rates.

The Property Leasing and Management Services Agreement and the Telecommunications Services Agreement (together the “2004 Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements”) expired on December 31, 2007. On December 13, 2007, we entered into the 2008-2010 property leasing and management services agreement (the “2008-2010 Property Leasing Agreement”) and the 2008-2010 telecommunications services agreement (the “2008-2010 Telecommunications Services Agreement”) with CMCC, with a view to extending the continuing connected transactions under the 2004 Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements on the same terms. Each of the 2008-2010 Property Leasing Agreement and the 2008-2010 Telecommunications Services Agreement has a fixed term of three years and is effective from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. The payments payable by us to CMCC and its subsidiaries under the 2008-2010 Property Leasing Agreement did not exceed RMB1,400 million, RMB1,500 million and RMB1,600 million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, while the payments payable by us to CMCC and its subsidiaries under the 2008-2010 Telecommunications Services Agreement for the same periods did not exceed RMB4,350 million, RMB4,500 million and RMB4,400 million, respectively. The 2008-2010 Property Leasing Agreement and the 2008-2010 Telecommunications Services Agreement expired on December 31, 2010.

On December 21, 2010, we entered into the 2011-2013 property leasing and management agreement (the “2011-2013 Property Leasing Agreement”) with CMCC to extend the existing continuing connected transactions under the 2008-2010 Property Leasing Agreement. On the same date, we entered into the 2011-2013 telecommunications services agreement (the “2011-2013 Telecommunications Services Agreement”) with CMCC to govern the continuing connected transactions between the parties in relation to the provision of telecommunications services, which were previously governed by the 2008-2010 Telecommunications Services Agreement. The 2011-2013 Property Leasing Agreement and the 2011-2013 Telecommunications Services Agreement are for a term of three years commencing on January 1, 2011.

The amount of the aggregate annual rental and property management service charges payable by us to CMCC and its subsidiaries under the 2011-2013 Property Leasing Agreement for each of the three years ending December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013 is not expected to exceed RMB1,000 million. For the 2011-2013 Telecommunications Services Agreement, the charges payable by us to CMCC and its subsidiaries under the 2011–2013 Telecommunications Services Agreement are expected not to exceed RMB1,500 million, RMB1,700 million and RMB2,000 million for the three years ending December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively, while the aggregate annual amount payable by CMCC and its subsidiaries to us for each of the three years ending December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013 is not expected to exceed RMB2,400 million. The transactions contemplated under the 2011-2013 Property Leasing Agreement and the 2011–2013 Telecommunications Services Agreement constitute our continuing connected transactions under Rule 14A.34 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules and are subject to the reporting, annual review and announcement requirements, but exempt from the independent shareholders’ approval requirements under the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

In 2010, no consideration was paid from us to CMCC or from CMCC to us under the International Roaming Settlement Agreement, the 2008 Trademark License Agreement, the Spectrum and Numbering Resources Agreement, the Inter-Provincial Transmission Line Leasing Settlement Agreement and the Platform Development Agreement.

Item 8. Financial Information.

Consolidated Financial Statements

Our audited consolidated financial statements are set forth beginning on page F-1. Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F, no significant change has occurred since the date of the annual financial statements.

 

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Legal Proceedings

We are not involved in any material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings, and, so far as we are aware, we do not have any pending or threatened litigation, arbitration or administrative proceeding that is expected to have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Policy on Dividend Distributions

We hold in the highest regard the interests of our shareholders and the returns achieved for them, especially our minority shareholders. In consideration of our good profitability in 2010 and having taken into account our long-term development, our board of directors recommended payment of a final dividend of HK$1.597 per share for the financial year ended December 31, 2010 in accordance with our dividend payout ratio of 43% planned for the full financial year of 2010. This, together with the interim dividend of HK$1.417 per share paid in 2010, amounted to an aggregate dividend payment of HK$3.014 per share for the full financial year of 2010.

In 2011, having taken into account various relevant factors, such as our overall financial condition, our cash flow generating capabilities and the need of our future sustainable development, we plan that our dividend payout ratio for the full year of 2011 will be 43%.

Our board of directors is of the view that our good profitability and strong cash flow generating capabilities will continue to support our future sustainable development, while providing our shareholders with a favorable return.

Item 9. The Offer and Listing.

In connection with our initial public offering, our American depositary shares, or ADSs, each representing twenty ordinary shares, were listed and commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange on October 22, 1997 under the symbol “CHL”. Effective from July 5, 2000, our ADS-to-share ratio has been changed to one-to-five. Our shares were listed and commenced trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on October 23, 1997. Prior to these listings, there was no public market for our equity securities. The New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange are the principal trading markets for our ADSs and ordinary shares, which are not listed on any other exchanges in or outside the United States.

As of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, there were 20,065,423,246 and 20,066,238,746, respectively, of our ordinary shares issued and outstanding. As of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, there were, respectively, 477 and 483 registered holders of American depositary receipts evidencing 86,784,282 and 92,925,267 of our ADSs. Since certain of the ADSs are held by nominees, the above number may not be representative of the actual number of U.S. beneficial holders of ADSs or the number of ADSs beneficially held by U.S. persons. The depositary for the ADSs is The Bank of New York Mellon.

The high and low closing sale prices of the shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and of the ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange for the periods indicated are as follows.

 

     Price per Share (HK$)      Price per ADS (US$)  
     High      Low      High      Low  

2006

     69.40         35.60         44.96         22.82   

2007

     158.90         64.70         103.69         41.85   

2008

     136.60         53.80         89.30         34.83   

2009

           

First Quarter

     85.00         63.00         54.23         40.75   

Second Quarter

     83.10         65.65         54.04         43.16   

Third Quarter

     91.55         71.95         58.54         47.10   

Fourth Quarter

     79.30         69.60         51.37         44.92   

2010

           

First Quarter

     79.40         72.35         50.54         46.87   

Second Quarter

     80.65         71.95         52.07         46.27   

Third Quarter

     84.30         76.50         54.40         48.57   

Fourth Quarter

     83.45         76.05         53.71         49.06   

October

     83.45         78.65         53.71         50.91   

November

     82.70         77.45         53.13         49.85   

December

     78.95         76.05         50.68         49.06   

2011

           

January

     78.85         76.30         50.44         49.14   

February

     77.45         71.90         49.64         46.38   

March

     75.45         69.20         48.54         44.83   

First Quarter

     78.85         69.20         50.44         44.83   

April (through April 21)

     73.95         71.95         47.65         46.27   

 

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We may conduct in the future a public offering and listing of our shares in Mainland China. We have not set a specific timetable or decided on any specific form for an offering in Mainland China. We believe that an offering and listing of our shares in Mainland China would provide us with better access to the capital markets in Mainland China and enable our customers in Mainland China to have an opportunity to become our shareholders. A decision to proceed with such an offering, as well as the precise timing of such an offering, would depend on a number of factors, including the receipt of relevant regulatory approvals and market conditions.

Item 10. Additional Information.

Memorandum and Articles of Association

Under Section 3 of our Memorandum of Association, we have the capacity and the rights, powers and privileges of a natural person and, in addition and without limit, we may do anything that we are permitted or required to do by any enactment or rule of law.

Directors

Material Interests. A director who is in any way directly or indirectly interested in a contract or proposed contract with us shall declare the nature of his interest in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 32) of Hong Kong and the Articles of Association. A director shall not vote, or be counted in the quorum, on any resolution of the board in respect of any contract or arrangement or proposal in which he or any of his Associates (as such term is defined in the Listing Rules of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange), is to his knowledge, materially interested, and if he shall do so his vote shall not be counted or counted in the quorum for that resolution. The above prohibition shall not apply to any contract, arrangement or proposal:

 

   

for the giving by us of any security or indemnity to the director or his Associates in respect of money lent or obligations incurred or undertaken by him or any of them at the request of, or for, our or any of our subsidiaries’ benefit;

 

   

for the giving by us of any security to a third party in respect of our or any of our subsidiaries’ debt or obligation for which the director or his Associates has himself or themselves assumed responsibility or guaranteed or secured in whole or in part whether alone or jointly;

 

   

concerning an offer of the shares or debentures or other securities of or by us or any other company which we may promote or be interested in for subscription or purchase where the director or his Associates are, or are to be, interested as a participant in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of the offer;

 

   

in which the director or his Associates are interested in the same manner as other holders of our shares or debentures or other securities by virtue only of his or their interest in our shares or debentures or other securities;

 

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concerning any other company in which the director or his Associates are interested, directly or indirectly, as an officer or a shareholder or in which the director or his Associates are beneficially interested in shares of that company other than a company in which the director and any of his Associates, are beneficially interested in five percent or more of the issued shares of any class of the equity share capital of such company (or of any third company through which his interest or that of his Associates is derived) or of the voting rights (excluding for the purpose of calculating such five percent interest any indirect interest of such director or his Associates by virtue of our interest in such company);

 

   

for the benefit of our or any of our subsidiaries’ employees, including the adoption, modification or operation of a pension fund or retirement, death or disability benefit scheme which relates to both our, or any of our subsidiaries’, directors and employees and such directors’ Associates and does not give the director or his Associates any privilege not generally accorded to the class of persons to whom such scheme or fund relates; and

 

   

concerning the adoption, modification or operation of any employees’ share scheme involving the issue or grant of options over shares or other securities by us to, or for the benefit of, our or any of our subsidiaries’ employees under which the director or his Associates may benefit.

Compensation and Pension. The directors are entitled to receive by way of remuneration for their services such sum as we may determine from time to time in general meeting. The directors are also entitled to be repaid their reasonable traveling, hotel and other expenses incurred by them in or about the performance of their duties as directors. The directors may award special remuneration out of our funds, by way of salary, commission or otherwise as the directors may determine, to any director who performs services which, in the opinion of the directors, are outside the scope of the ordinary duties of a director.

The board may establish and maintain any contributory or non-contributory pension or superannuation funds for the benefit of, or give donations, gratuities, pensions, allowances or emoluments to any persons (1) who are or were at any time in employment or service of our company (or any of our subsidiaries) or are allied or associated with us or any of our subsidiaries, or (2) who are or were at any time our (or any of our subsidiaries’) directors or officers, and who are holding or have held any salaried employment or office in our company or any of our subsidiaries, and the wives, widows, families and dependants of any of these persons. Any director holding any such employment or office is entitled to participate in, and retain for his own benefit, any such donation, gratuity, pension, allowance or emolument.

Borrowing Powers. The directors may exercise all the powers of our company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of our undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital and to issue debentures, debenture stocks, bonds and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for the debt, liability or obligation of our company or any third party.

Qualification; Retirement. A director need not hold any of our shares to qualify as a director. There is no age limit requirement for a director’s retirement or non-retirement.

Each director is subject to retirement by rotation at least once every three years. The directors to retire in every year shall be those who have been longest in office since their last election, but as between persons who became directors on the same day shall be determined by lot unless they otherwise agree between themselves. The retiring directors shall be eligible for re-election.

Rights Attaching to Ordinary Shares

The section entitled “Description of Share Capital” in our Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-47256), as filed with the SEC on October 30, 2000, is incorporated by reference into this annual report on Form 20-F.

Pursuant to ordinary resolutions passed at our extraordinary general meeting held on November 10, 2000, our authorized share capital was increased, by the creation of an additional 14,000,000,000 ordinary shares of HK$0.10 each, which rank pari passu with the existing ordinary shares, to a total of HK$3,000,000,000 divided into 30,000,000,000 ordinary shares.

 

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Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings

We must hold, in each year, a general meeting as our annual general meeting in addition to any other meetings in that year. The annual general meeting must be held at such time (which shall be within a period of not more than 15 months, or such longer period as the Registrar of Companies may authorize in writing, after the holding of the last preceding annual general meeting) and place as may be determined by the directors. All other general meetings are extraordinary meetings. The directors may proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting whenever they think fit, in accordance with the Companies Ordinance.

In general, an annual general meeting and a meeting called for the passing of a special resolution shall be called by not less than 21 days’ notice in writing, and any other general meeting shall be called by not less than 14 days’ notice in writing. The notice must specify the place, date and time of the meeting and, in the case of special business, the general nature of that business.

Miscellaneous

We keep our share register with our share registrar, which is Hong Kong Registrars Limited, Shops 1712-1716, 17th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong. In addition, we also file certain documents with the Registrar of Companies, Hong Kong, China, in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Ordinance. Our company number is 622909.

Material Contracts

See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions” for certain arrangements we have entered into with CMCC.

Exchange Controls

The Renminbi currently is not a freely convertible currency. Under the “capital account”, which includes, among others, foreign direct investment, the prior approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange should be obtained prior to conversion of Renminbi into foreign currency. However, under the “current account”, which includes dividends, trade and service-related foreign currency transactions, the Renminbi is currently freely convertible.

The value of the Renminbi is subject to changes in PRC government policies and to international economic and political developments. Since 1994, the conversion of the Renminbi into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, has been based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China, which are set daily based on the previous business day’s inter-bank foreign exchange market rates and current exchange rates on the world financial markets. From 1994 to July 20, 2005, the official exchange rate for the conversion of the Renminbi to foreign currencies was generally stable. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government introduced a managed floating exchange rate system to allow the value of the Renminbi to fluctuate within a regulated band based on market supply and demand and by reference to a basket of currencies. The PRC government has since made and in the future may make further adjustments to the exchange rate system.

There are no limitations on the right of non-resident or foreign owners to remit dividends or to hold or vote the ordinary shares or the ADSs imposed by Hong Kong law or by our memorandum and articles of association or other constituent documents.

Taxation — PRC

This section describes certain PRC tax consequences relating to the ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares and ADSs. This section does not address all possible PRC tax considerations that may be relevant to an investment in our ordinary shares or ADSs in light of an investor’s specific circumstances, and is based on PRC tax laws and relevant interpretations as in effect as of the date of this annual report on Form 20-F, which are subject to change, including the possibility of having retroactive effect. Accordingly, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the PRC and other tax consequences of an investment in our ordinary shares or ADSs under your particular circumstances.

Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementing rules, which took effect on January 1, 2008, or the PRC income tax law, a non-resident enterprise is generally subject to PRC enterprise income tax with respect to PRC-sourced income. Moreover, the PRC tax authorities have been issuing further interpretations and notices to enhance the application of the new PRC income tax law.

 

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Taxation of Dividends

On April 22, 2009, the PRC State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT, issued the Notice Regarding the Determination of Tax Residence Status of Chinese-Controlled Offshore-Incorporated Enterprises on the Basis of De Facto Management Bodies, or the 2009 Notice, which had retroactive effect as of January 1, 2008. We are considered a PRC resident enterprise for purposes of the 2009 Notice. In accordance with the 2009 Notice and the PRC income tax law, we are required to withhold enterprise income tax equal to 10% of any dividend when it is distributed to non-resident enterprise shareholders whose names appeared on our register of members, as of the record date for such dividend, and who were not individuals.

Taxation of Capital Gains

Under the PRC income tax law, a non-resident enterprise is generally subject to PRC enterprise income tax with respect to PRC-sourced income, but there remain substantial uncertainties as to their interpretation and application by the relevant PRC tax authorities. We intend to comply with any interpretation or notice in relation to the taxation of capital gains issued by the PRC tax authorities in the future.

Additional PRC Tax Considerations

Stamp duty. Under the Provisional Regulations of the PRC Concerning Stamp Duty and its implementing rules, both of which became effective on October 1, 1988, PRC stamp duty should not apply to acquisitions or dispositions of our ordinary shares or ADSs outside of the PRC, as the PRC stamp duty is imposed only on documents executed or received within the PRC that are legally binding in the PRC and protected under the PRC law.

Estate tax. The PRC does not currently levy estate tax.

Taxation — Hong Kong

The taxation of income and capital gains of holders of ordinary shares or ADSs is subject to the laws and practices of Hong Kong and of jurisdictions in which holders of ordinary shares or ADSs are resident or otherwise subject to tax. The following summary of certain relevant taxation provisions under Hong Kong law is based on current law and practice, is subject to changes therein and does not constitute legal or tax advice. The discussion does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in the ordinary shares or ADSs. Accordingly, each prospective investor (particularly those subject to special tax rules, such as banks, dealers, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities and holders of 10% or more of our voting capital stock) should consult its own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of an investment in the ordinary shares and ADSs. The discussion is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this annual report on Form 20-F, all of which are subject to change. There is no reciprocal tax treaty in effect between Hong Kong and the United States.

Tax on Dividends

Under the current practices of the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department, no tax is payable in Hong Kong in respect of dividends paid by us.

Profits Tax

No tax is imposed in Hong Kong in respect of capital gains from the sale of property (such as the ordinary shares and ADSs). Trading gains from the sale of property by persons carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong where such gains are derived from or arise in Hong Kong from such trade, profession or business will be chargeable to Hong Kong profits tax, which is currently imposed at the rate of 16.5% on corporations and at a maximum rate of 15% on individuals. Gains from sales of the ordinary shares effected on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange may be considered to be derived from or arise in Hong Kong. Liability for Hong Kong profits tax may thus arise in respect of trading gains from sales of ordinary shares or ADSs realized by persons carrying on a business or trading or dealing in securities in Hong Kong.

 

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Stamp Duty

Hong Kong stamp duty, currently charged at the rate of HK$1 per HK$1,000 or part thereof on the higher of the consideration for or the value of the ordinary shares, will be payable by the purchaser on every purchase and by the seller on every sale of ordinary shares (i.e., a total of HK$2 per HK$1,000 or part thereof is currently payable on a typical sale and purchase transaction involving ordinary shares). In addition, a fixed duty of HK$5 is currently payable on any instrument of transfer of ordinary shares. The withdrawal of ordinary shares upon the surrender of ADSs, and the issuance of ADSs upon the deposit of ordinary shares, will also attract stamp duty at the rate described above for sale and purchase transactions unless the withdrawal or deposit does not result in a change in the beneficial ownership of the ordinary shares under Hong Kong law, in which case only a fixed duty of HK$5 is payable on the transfer. The issuance of the ADSs upon the deposit of ordinary shares issued directly to the depositary or for the account of the depositary does not attract stamp duty. No Hong Kong stamp duty is payable upon the transfer of ADSs outside Hong Kong.

Estate Duty

The Revenue (Abolition of Estate Duty) Ordinance 2005 came into effect on February 11, 2006 in Hong Kong. No Hong Kong estate duty is payable and no estate duty clearance papers are needed for an application for a grant of representation in respect of holders of ordinary shares whose death occurs on or after February 11, 2006.

Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation

This section describes the material United States federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our shares or ADSs. This section applies to you only if you are a U.S. holder, as defined below, and you hold your shares or ADSs as capital assets for United States federal income tax purposes. This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a special class of holders subject to special rules, including:

 

   

a dealer in securities;

 

   

a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings;

 

   

a tax-exempt organization;

 

   

a life insurance company;

 

   

a person liable for alternative minimum tax;

 

   

a person that actually or constructively owns 10% or more of our voting stock;

 

   

a person that holds shares or ADSs as part of a straddle or a hedging or conversion transaction; or

 

   

a person whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

This section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. In addition, this section is based in part upon the representations of The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, and the assumption that each obligation in the Deposit Agreement among us, The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, and owners and beneficial owners of ADRs issued thereunder, and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.

If a partnership holds the shares or ADSs, the United States federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the tax treatment of the partnership. A partner in a partnership holding the shares or ADSs should consult its tax advisor with regard to the United States federal income tax treatment of an investment in the shares or ADSs.

You are a U.S. holder if you are a beneficial owner of shares or ADSs and you are:

 

   

a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a domestic corporation;

 

   

an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

 

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You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the United States federal, state and local and other tax consequences of owning and disposing of shares or ADSs in your particular circumstances.

In general, and taking into account the earlier assumptions, for United States federal income tax purposes, if you hold ADRs evidencing ADSs, you will be treated as the owner of the shares represented by those ADRs. Exchanges of shares for ADRs, and ADRs for shares, generally will not be subject to the United States federal income tax.

Taxation of Dividends

Under the United States federal income tax laws, and subject to the passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, rules discussed below, if you are a U.S. holder, the gross amount of any dividend we pay out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) is subject to United States federal taxation. If you are a noncorporate U.S. holder, dividends paid to you in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013 that constitute qualified dividend income will be taxable to you at a maximum tax rate of 15% provided that you hold the shares or ADSs for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date and meet other holding period requirements. Dividends paid with respect to the shares or ADSs generally will be qualified dividend income provided that, in the year that you receive the dividend, the shares or ADSs are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States.

You must include any PRC tax withheld from the dividend payment in this gross amount even though you do not in fact receive it. The dividend is taxable to you when you, in the case of shares, or The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, in the case of ADSs, receive the dividend, actually or constructively. The dividend will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to United States corporations in respect of dividends received from other United States corporations. The amount of the dividend distribution that you must include in your income will be the U.S. dollar value of the Hong Kong dollar payments made, determined at the spot Hong Kong dollar/U.S. dollar rate on the date the dividend distribution is includible in your income, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Generally, any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date you include the dividend payment in income to the date you convert the payment into U.S. dollars will be treated as ordinary income or loss and will not be eligible for the special tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income. This gain or loss generally will be from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of your basis in the shares or ADSs and thereafter as capital gain.

Subject to certain limitations, the PRC tax withheld and paid over to the PRC will be creditable or deductible against your United States federal income tax liability. Special rules apply in determining the foreign tax credit limitation with respect to dividends that are subject to the maximum 15% tax rate.

For foreign tax credit purposes, dividends will generally be income from sources outside the United States and will, depending on your circumstances, generally be either “passive” or “general” income for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to you.

Taxation of Capital Gains

Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, if you are a U.S. holder and you sell or otherwise dispose of your shares or ADSs, you will recognize capital gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount that you realize and your tax basis, determined in U.S. dollars, in your shares or ADSs. Capital gain of a noncorporate U.S. holder is generally taxed at preferential rates where the property is held for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. The gain or loss will generally be from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

 

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PFIC Rules

We believe that shares or ADSs should not be treated as stock of a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes, but this conclusion is a factual determination that is made annually and thus may be subject to change. In general, if you are a U.S. holder, we will be a PFIC with respect to you if for any taxable year in which you held our shares or ADSs:

 

   

at least 75% of our gross income for the taxable year is passive income; or

 

   

at least 50% of the value, determined on the basis of a quarterly average, of our assets is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income.

Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents (other than certain rents and royalties derived in the active conduct of a trade or business), annuities and gains from assets that produce passive income. If a foreign corporation owns at least 25% by value of the stock of another corporation, the foreign corporation is treated for purposes of the PFIC tests as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation, and as receiving directly its proportionate share of the other corporation’s income.

If we are treated as a PFIC, and you are a U.S. holder that did not make a mark-to-market election, as described below, you will be subject to special rules with respect to:

 

   

any gain you realize on the sale or other disposition of your shares or ADSs; and

 

   

any excess distribution that we make to you (generally, any distributions to you during a single taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received by you in respect of the shares or ADSs during the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, your holding period for the shares or ADSs).

Under these rules:

 

   

the gain or excess distribution will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the shares or ADSs;

 

   

the amount allocated to the taxable year in which you realized the gain or excess distribution will be taxed as ordinary income;

 

   

the amount allocated to each prior year, with certain exceptions, will be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year; and

 

   

the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed in respect of the tax attributable to each such year.

Special rules apply for calculating the amount of the foreign tax credit with respect to excess distributions by a PFIC.

If you own shares or ADSs in a PFIC that are treated as marketable stock, you may make a mark-to-market election. If you make this election, you will not be subject to the PFIC rules described above. Instead, in general, you will include as ordinary income each year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of your shares or ADSs at the end of the taxable year over your adjusted basis in your shares or ADSs. These amounts of ordinary income will not be eligible for the favorable tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains. You will also be allowed to take an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of your shares or ADSs over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-market election). Your basis in the shares or ADSs will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts.

Your shares or ADSs will be treated as stock in a PFIC if we were a PFIC at any time during your holding period in your shares or ADSs, even if we are not currently a PFIC. For purposes of this rule, if you make a mark-to-market election with respect to your shares or ADSs, you will be treated as having a new holding period in your shares or ADSs beginning on the first day of the first taxable year beginning after the last taxable year for which the mark-to-market election applies.

In addition, notwithstanding any election you make with regard to the shares or ADSs, dividends that you receive from us will not constitute qualified dividend income to you if we are a PFIC either in the taxable year of the distribution or the preceding taxable year. Dividends that you receive that do not constitute qualified dividend income are not eligible for taxation at the 15% maximum rate applicable to qualified dividend income. Instead, you must include the gross amount of any such dividend paid by us out of our accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) in your gross income, and it will be subject to tax at rates applicable to ordinary income.

If you own shares or ADSs during any year that we are a PFIC, you must file Internal Revenue Service Form 8621.

 

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Documents on Display

You may read and copy documents referred to in this annual report on Form 20-F that have been filed with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room and its copy charges. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this annual report on Form 20-F.

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We are subject to market rate risks due to fluctuations in interest rates. The majority of our debt is in the form of long-term loans with original maturities ranging up to fifteen years. Accordingly, fluctuations in interest rates can lead to significant fluctuations in the fair value of these debt instruments. From time to time, we may enter into interest rate swap agreements designed to mitigate our exposure to interest rate risks, although we did not consider it necessary to do so in 2010.

We are also exposed to foreign currency risk relating to cash and cash equivalents denominated in foreign currencies. We may enter into foreign exchange forward contracts designed to mitigate our exposure to foreign currency risks. As of December 31, 2010, we had no foreign exchange forward contracts outstanding. We expect our foreign currency hedging activity to be generally limited to the hedging of specific future commitments in foreign currencies.

The following table provides information regarding our interest rate-sensitive financial instruments, which consist of fixed and variable rate short-term and long-term debt obligations, as of the dates indicated.

 

     Expected Maturity Date     As of December  31,
2010
     As of December 31,
2009
 
     2011     2012      2013      2014      2015      Thereafter     Total
Recorded
Amount
    Fair
Value
     Total
Recorded
Amount
    Fair
Value
 
     (RMB equivalent in millions, except interest rates)  

Debt:

                         

Obligations under finance leases

     68        —           —           —           —           —          68        68         68        68   

Average interest rate

     4.96     —           —           —           —           —          4.96     —           4.96     —     

Bonds

     4,981        —           —           —           —           4,982        9,963        10,038         9,918        10,077   

Average interest rate

     4.00     —           —           —           —           4.50     4.25     —           4.68     —     

Deferred consideration payable

     —          —           —           —           —           23,633        23,633        23,633         23,633        23,633   

Average interest rate

     —          —           —           —           —           0.97     2.22     —           3.28     —     

The following table provides information regarding our foreign currency-sensitive financial instruments and transactions, which consist of deposits with banks and cash and cash equivalents as of the dates indicated.

 

     Expected Maturity Date      As of December  31,
2010
     As of December  31,
2009
 
     2011      2012      2013      2014      2015      Thereafter      Total
Recorded
Amount
     Fair
Value
     Total
Recorded
Amount
     Fair
Value
 
     (RMB equivalent in millions)  

On-balance sheet financial instruments

                             

Pledged bank deposits:

                             

in Hong Kong dollars

     —           34         —           128         —           —           162         162         —           —     

Deposits with banks:

                             

in U.S. dollars

     269         —           —           —           —           —           269         269         274         274   

in Hong Kong dollars

     225        —           —           —           —           —           225        225        660         660   

Cash and cash equivalents:

                             

in U.S. dollars

     369         —           —           —           —           —           369         369         446         446   

in Hong Kong dollars

     2,987         —           —           —           —           —           2,987         2,987         6,768         6,768   

 

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Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities.

The Bank of New York Mellon, located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, as the depositary of our ADSs, collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may refuse to provide delivery of ADSs or deposited shares or to provide any distributions until its fees for those services are paid.

 

ADR holders must pay:    For:

•        US$5 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion thereof)

  

•        Each issuance of an ADR, including as a result of a distribution of shares or rights or other property

  

•        Each cancellation of an ADR, including if the deposit agreement terminates

  

•        Each distribution of securities, other than shares or ADSs, treating the securities as if they were shares for purpose of calculating fees

•        US$0.02 (or less) per ADS

  

•        Any cash distribution (not including cash dividend distribution)

•        Registration or transfer fees

  

•        Transfer and registration of shares on the share register of our transfer agent and the registrar in Hong Kong from an ADR holder’s name to the name of the depositary or its agent when the ADR holder deposit or withdraw shares

•        Expenses of the depositary

  

•        Conversion of Hong Kong dollars to U.S. dollars

  

•        Cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses

•        Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian has to pay on any ADS or share underlying an ADS, for example, stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes

  

•        As necessary

The Bank of New York Mellon, as the depositary, has agreed to pay for certain expenses incurred in connection with our shareholders’ meetings. The amount of such expenses paid by the Bank of New York Mellon in 2010 was US$194,242.31, net of withholding tax. The Bank of New York Mellon has also agreed to waive certain fees for standard costs associated with the administration of the ADR program, and the amount of such fees waived for the year ended December 31, 2010 was US$135,185.13.

 

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PART II

Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies.

None.

Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds.

None.

Item 15. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, including, without limitation, that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of December 31, 2010, an evaluation was carried out by our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2010, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is set forth below.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management of China Mobile Limited (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards.

As of December 31, 2010, the Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting using criteria set forth in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, the Company’s management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 has been audited by KPMG, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report dated March 16, 2011.

 

/s/    LI Yue

    

/s/    XUE Taohai

Name:   LI Yue      Name:   XUE Taohai
Title:   Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer      Title:   Executive Director, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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LOGO

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of

China Mobile Limited:

We have audited China Mobile Limited and its subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The management of China Mobile Limited and its subsidiaries is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the internal control over financial reporting of China Mobile Limited and its subsidiaries based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, China Mobile Limited and its subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the COSO.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of China Mobile Limited and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, and the related consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of changes in equity and the consolidated cash flow statement for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010 and our report dated March 16, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

/s/    KPMG

Hong Kong, China

March 16, 2011

 

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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. During 2010, no change to our internal control over financial reporting occurred that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

All members of our audit committee have extensive management experience. In particular, one of the members has many years of finance and commercial management experience and expertise. However, members of our audit committee do not possess direct experience or expertise in respect of the evaluation of reports filed with the SEC by SEC-reporting issuers. Our board of directors has determined that we do not currently have an audit committee financial expert, as defined in Item 16A(b) of Form 20-F, serving on our audit committee. Our audit committee may consider appointing, from time to time, an external financial expert as a consultant.

Item 16B. Code of Ethics.

We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Chief Financial Officer and our other designated senior officers. A copy of our Code of Ethics for Covered Officers was filed as Exhibit 11.1 to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, and may also be downloaded from our website at www.chinamobileltd.com/images/pdf/terms/CodeofEthics_eng.pdf. Information contained on that website is not a part of this annual report on Form 20-F. Copies of our Code of Ethics for Covered Officers may also be obtained at no charge by writing to our investor relations department at 60/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong.

Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

The following table sets forth the aggregate audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees of our principal accountants and all other fees billed for products and services provided by our principal accountants other than the audit fees, audit-related fees and tax fees for each of the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010:

 

     Audit Fees(1)      Audit-Related Fees      Tax Fees      All Other  Fees(2)  
     (RMB)  

2009

     80,000,000         —           72,000         9,380,000   

2010

     83,000,000         —           1,000,000         11,000,000   

 

(1) Includes the fees for services rendered in connection with the audit of internal control over financial reporting as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(2) Includes the fees for advisory service rendered in connection with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other information technology-related advisory services provided to us.

Before our principal accountants were engaged by us or our subsidiaries to render audit or non-audit services, the engagement was approved by our audit committee as required by applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.

Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees.

Not applicable.

Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers.

None.

Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

Not applicable.

 

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Item 16G. Corporate Governance.

As a foreign private issuer (as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), we are permitted to follow home country practices in lieu of some of the corporate governance practices required to be followed by U.S. companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As a result, our corporate governance practices differ in some respects from those required to be followed by U.S. companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those required to be followed by U.S. companies under the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards include:

Section 303A.01 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual provides that listed companies must have a majority of independent directors. As a listed company in Hong Kong, we are subject to the requirement under the Hong Kong Listing Rules that at least three members of our board of directors be independent as determined under the Hong Kong Listing Rules. We currently have three independent directors out of a total of twelve directors. The Hong Kong Listing Rules set forth standards for establishing independence, which differ from those set forth in the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

Section 303A.03 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual provides that listed companies must schedule regular executive sessions in which non-management directors meet without management participation. We are not required, under the applicable Hong Kong law, to hold such executive sessions.

Section 303A.04 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual provides that the nominating/corporate governance committee of a listed company must have a written charter that addresses the committee’s purpose and responsibilities, which include, among others, the development and recommendation of corporate governance guidelines to the listed company’s board of directors. Our board of directors is directly in charge of developing our corporate governance guidelines.

Section 303A.07 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual provides that if an audit committee member simultaneously serves on the audit committee of more than three public companies, and the listed company does not limit the number of audit committees on which its audit committee members serve to three or less, then in each case, the board of directors must determine that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on the listed company’s audit committee and disclose such determination. We are not required, under the applicable Hong Kong law, to make such determination.

Section 303A.10 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual provides that listed companies must adopt and disclose a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees. While we are not required, under the Hong Kong Listing Rules, to adopt such similar code, as required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we have adopted a code of ethics that is applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or persons performing similar functions.

Section 303A.12(a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual provides that each listed company’s chief executive officer must certify to the New York Stock Exchange each year that he or she is not aware of any violation by the company of New York Stock Exchange corporate governance listing standards. Our Chief Executive Officer is not required, under the applicable Hong Kong law, to make similar certifications.

 

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PART III

Item 17. Financial Statements.

Not applicable.

Item 18. Financial Statements.

The following financial statements are filed as part of this annual report on Form 20-F.

 

China Mobile Limited:

  

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-1   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2   

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for Each of the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010

     F-3   

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2010

     F-5   

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for Each of the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010

     F-7   

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for Each of the Three Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010

     F-10   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-12   

Item 19. Exhibits.

 

  (a) See Item 18 for a list of the financial statements filed as part of this annual report on Form 20-F.

 

  (b) Exhibits to this annual report on Form 20-F:

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

1.1   Memorandum and Articles of Association (as amended).(1)
2.1   We agree to provide the SEC, upon request, copies of instruments defining the rights of holders of our long-term debt.
2.2   Guarantee from China Mobile Communications Corporation for the RMB5,000 million guaranteed bonds due 2011 issued by Guangdong Mobile.(2)
2.3   Letter of Guarantee from China Mobile Communications Corporation for the RMB3,000 million guaranteed bonds due 2007 and RMB5,000 million guaranteed bonds due 2017, both issued by Guangdong Mobile in 2002 (with English translation).(3)
4.1   Agreement regarding Settlement of Interconnection and Roaming, Transmission Line Leasing, Usage of Spectrum Frequency and Numbering Resources, dated July 1, 2004, between China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).(4)
4.2   Tax Indemnity, dated July 1, 2004, among China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited, China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation.(4)
4.3   Conditional Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated April 28, 2004 between China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited, China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation.(5)
4.4   Asset Injection Agreement, dated April 9, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation, Neimenggu Mobile and Neimenggu Communication Service Company (with English translation and schedule).(5)
4.5   Asset Injection Agreement, dated April 9, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation, China Mobile Group Design Institute Co., Ltd. and Beijing P&T Consulting & Design Institute (with English translation).(5)
4.6   Asset Injection Agreement, dated April 9, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation and China Mobile Communication Company Limited (with English translation).(5)

 

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4.7   Agreement on the Confirmation of Rights and Obligations, dated April 9, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation, Neimenggu Mobile and Neimenggu Communication Service Company (with English translation and
schedule).
(5)
4.8   Agreement on the Confirmation of Rights and Obligations, dated April 9, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation, China Mobile Group Design Institute Co., Ltd. and Beijing P&T Consulting & Design Institute (with English translation).(5)
4.9   Consent Letter to the Substitution of Borrowers under the Consigned Loan Agreement, dated February 13, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation, Neimenggu Mobile, Neimenggu Communication Service Company and Beijing Chang’an Sub-branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (with English translation and schedule).(5)
4.10   Agreement on Sharing of Administrative Services and Administrative Costs, dated April 27, 2004, between China Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. and China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).(5)
4.11   Tax Indemnity dated July 1, 2002 between China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited, China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation.(3)
4.12   Co-operation Framework Agreement in respect of Indirect Loan dated May 10, 2002 between China Mobile Communications Corporation and China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited (with English translation).(3)
4.13   Agreement on the Sales and Maintenance of Masts and Maintenance of Antennas and Feeder Lines, dated August 1, 2000, between Hebei Mobile and Hebei Provincial Posts and Telecommunications Equipment and Machinery Plant.(6)
4.14   Property Leasing and Management Services Agreement for the Years from 2008 to 2010, dated December 13, 2007, between China Mobile Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).(7)
4.15   Telecommunications Services Agreement for the Years from 2008 to 2010, dated December 13, 2007, between China Mobile Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).(7)
4.16   Trademark License Agreement, dated January 1, 2008, between China Mobile Communications Corporation and China Mobile Limited (with English translation).(7)
4.17   Tripartite Agreement on the Transfer of Rights and Obligations Relating to the Interconnection and Settlement Arrangements, dated November 13, 2008, among China Mobile Communications Corporation, China Tietong Telecommunications Corporation and China Mobile Limited (with English translation). (8)
4.18   TD-SCDMA Network Capacity Leasing Agreement, dated December 29, 2008, between China Mobile Communications Corporation and China Mobile Limited (with English translation). (8)
4.19   Telecommunications Services Cooperation Agreement, dated November 6, 2009, between China Mobile Communications Corporation and China Mobile Limited (with English translation). (9)
4.20   Share Subscription Agreement, dated March 10, 2010, between China Mobile Group Guangdong Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd. (with English summary). (9)
4.21   Property Leasing and Management Services Agreement for the Years from 2011 to 2013, dated December 21, 2010, between China Mobile Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).
4.22   Telecommunications Services Agreement for the Years from 2011 to 2013, dated December 21, 2010, between China Mobile Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).
8.1   List of Major Subsidiaries.
11.1   Code of Ethics.(5)
12.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
12.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).

 

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13.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b).
13.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b).

 

(1) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 9, 2006.
(2) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 26, 2001.
(3) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2003.
(4) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 13, 2005.
(5) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2004.
(6) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-47256), filed with the SEC on October 30, 2000.
(7) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 11, 2008.
(8) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 23, 2009.
(9) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 7, 2010.

 

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SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on Form 20-F on its behalf.

 

CHINA MOBILE LIMITED
By:  

/s/    LI Yue

Name:   LI Yue
Title:   Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer

Date: April 27, 2011


Table of Contents

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

     Page No.  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2   

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income for each of the three years ended December  31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

     F-3   

Consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2010 and 2009

     F-5   

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

     F-7   

Consolidated cash flow statement

     F-10   

Notes to consolidated financial statements

     F-12   

 

F-1


Table of Contents

LOGO

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of

China Mobile Limited:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of China Mobile Limited and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, and the related consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of changes in equity and the consolidated cash flow statement for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the management of China Mobile Limited and its subsidiaries. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of China Mobile Limited and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the internal control over financial reporting of China Mobile Limited and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 16, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting of China Mobile Limited and its subsidiaries.

/s/ KPMG

Hong Kong, China

March 16, 2011

 

F-2


Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

For the year ended December 31, 2010

(Expressed in Renminbi)

 

     Note     2010     2009     2008  
           RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

Operating revenue (Turnover)

     3         

Usage and monthly fees

       312,349        300,632        278,608   

Value-added services fees

       151,435        131,434        113,288   

Other operating revenue

       21,447        20,037        19,914   
                          
       485,231        452,103        411,810   
                          

Operating expenses

        

Leased lines

       3,897        3,006        2,641   

Interconnection

       21,886        21,847        22,264   

Depreciation

     13        86,230        80,179        71,509   

Personnel

     4        24,524        21,480        19,960   

Other operating expenses

     5        197,940        178,583        153,041   
                          
       334,477        305,095        269,415   
                          

Profit from operations

       150,754        147,008        142,395   

Other net income

     6        2,336        1,780        2,159   

Non-operating net income

     7        685        359        517   

Interest income

       5,658        5,940        6,002   

Finance costs

     8        (902     (1,243     (1,550

Share of profit of associate

       558        —          —     

Share of loss of jointly controlled entity

     19        (18     (8     —     
                          

Profit before taxation

       159,071        153,836        149,523   

Taxation

     11 (a)      (39,047     (38,413     (36,735
                          

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

       120,024        115,423        112,788   

Other comprehensive income for the year

        

Exchange differences on translation of financial statements of overseas entities

       (135     42        (393
                          

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

       119,889        115,465        112,395   
                          

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

For the year ended December 31, 2010 (Continued)

(Expressed in Renminbi)

 

     Note     2010      2009      2008  
           RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Profit attributable to:

          

Equity shareholders of the Company

       119,640         115,166         112,627   

Non-controlling interests

       384         257         161   
                            

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

       120,024         115,423         112,788   
                            

Total comprehensive income attributable to:

          

Equity shareholders of the Company

       119,505         115,208         112,234   

Non-controlling interests

       384         257         161   
                            

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

       119,889         115,465         112,395   
                            

Earnings per share – Basic

     12 (a)    RMB 5.96       RMB 5.74       RMB 5.62   
                            

Earnings per share – Diluted

     12 (b)    RMB 5.89       RMB 5.67       RMB 5.53   
                            

The notes on pages F-12 to F-74 form part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

Consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2010

(Expressed in Renminbi)

 

     Note     As at
December 31, 2010
     As at
December 31, 2009
 
           RMB million      RMB million  

Non-current assets

       

Property, plant and equipment

     13        385,296         360,075   

Construction in progress

     14        54,868         46,094   

Land lease prepayments

       12,040         11,201   

Goodwill

     15        36,894         36,894   

Other intangible assets

     16        813         727   

Interest in associates

     18        40,175         —     

Interest in jointly controlled entity

     19        8         6   

Deferred tax assets

     20        9,720         8,939   

Pledged bank deposits

     21        162         —     

Other financial assets

     22        77         77   
                   
       540,053         464,013   
                   

Current assets

       

Inventories

     23        4,249         3,847   

Accounts receivable

     24        7,632         6,405   

Other receivables

     25        7,076         3,490   

Prepayments and other current assets

     25        10,151         9,064   

Amount due from ultimate holding company

     26        293         25   

Tax recoverable

     11 (c)      135         17   

Deposits with banks

       204,803         185,613   

Cash and cash equivalents

     27        87,543         78,894   
                   
       321,882         287,355   
                   

Current liabilities

       

Accounts payable

     28        111,646         95,985   

Bills payable

       502         642   

Deferred revenue

     29        43,489         35,573   

Accrued expenses and other payables

     31        85,716         69,335   

Amount due to ultimate holding company

     26        15         4   

Amount due to immediate holding company

     26        35         119   

Interest-bearing borrowings

     30 (a)      4,981         —     

Obligations under finance leases

     32        68         68   

Current taxation

     11 (c)      9,178         8,079   
                   
       255,630         209,805   
                   

Net current assets

       66,252         77,550   
                   

Total assets less current liabilities carried forward

       606,305         541,563   
                   

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

Consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2010

(Continued)

(Expressed in Renminbi)

 

     Note      As at
December 31, 2010
    As at
December 31, 2009
 
            RMB million     RMB million  

Total assets less current liabilities brought forward

        606,305        541,563   
                   

Non-current liabilities

       

Interest-bearing borrowings

     30         (28,615     (33,551

Deferred revenue, excluding current portion

     29         (248     (317

Deferred tax liabilities

     20         (39     (61
                   
        (28,902     (33,929
                   

NET ASSETS

        577,403        507,634   
                   

CAPITAL AND RESERVES

       

Share capital

        2,139        2,139   

Reserves

        574,018        504,609   
                   

Total equity attributable to equity shareholders of the Company

        576,157        506,748   

Non-controlling interests

        1,246        886   
                   

TOTAL EQUITY

        577,403        507,634   
                   

Approved and authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on March 16, 2011.

Li Yue

Director

Xue Taohai

Director

The notes on pages F-12 to F-74 form part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

For the year ended December 31, 2010

(Expressed in Renminbi)

 

 

     Attributable to equity shareholders of the Company              
     Share
capital
     Share
premium
     Capital
reserve
    General
reserve
     Exchange
reserve
    PRC
statutory
reserves
     Retained
profits
    Total     Non-controlling
interests
    Total
equity
 
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million     RMB million      RMB million     RMB million      RMB million     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

As at January 1, 2008

     2,136         385,743         (292,156     72         (688     84,422         192,132        371,661        488        372,149   

Changes in equity for 2008:

                        

Profit for the year

     —           —           —          —           —          —           112,627        112,627        161        112,788   

Other comprehensive income

     —           —           —          —           (393     —           —          (393     —          (393
                                                                                    

Total comprehensive income for the year

     —           —           —          —           (393     —           112,627        112,234        161        112,395   

Dividends approved in respect of the previous year (note 35(a) (ii))

     —           —           —          —           —          —           (21,028     (21,028     —          (21,028

Dividends declared in respect of the current year (note 35(a)(i))

     —           —           —          —           —          —           (23,532     (23,532     —          (23,532

Dividends declared to non-controlling interests in respect of the year

     —           —           —          —           —          —           —          —          (20     (20

Shares issued under share option scheme (note 35(b)(ii))

     2         494         (31     —           —          —           —          465        —          465   

Equity settled share-based transactions

     —           —           222        —           —          —           —          222        —          222   

Transfer to PRC statutory reserves (note 35(c)(ii))

     —           —           —          —           —          22,419         (22,419     —          —          —     
                                                                                    

As at December 31, 2008

     2,138         386,237         (291,965     72         (1,081     106,841         237,780        440,022        629        440,651   
                                                                                    

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

For the year ended December 31, 2010 (continued)

(Expressed in Renminbi)

 

     Attributable to equity shareholders of the Company               
     Share
capital
     Share
premium
     Capital
reserve
    General
reserve
     Exchange
reserve
    PRC
statutory
reserves
     Retained
profits
    Total     Non-controlling
interests
     Total equity  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million     RMB million      RMB million     RMB million      RMB million     RMB million     RMB million      RMB million  

As at January 1, 2009

     2,138         386,237         (291,965     72         (1,081     106,841         237,780        440,022        629         440,651   

Changes in equity for 2009:

                         

Profit for the year

     —           —           —          —           —          —           115,166        115,166        257         115,423   

Other comprehensive income

     —           —           —          —           42        —           —          42        —           42   
                                                                                     

Total comprehensive income for the year

     —           —           —          —           42        —           115,166        115,208        257         115,465   

Dividends approved in respect of the previous year (note 35(a) (ii))

     —           —           —          —           —          —           (24,823     (24,823     —           (24,823

Dividends declared in respect of the current year (note 35(a)(i))

     —           —           —          —           —          —           (23,791     (23,791     —           (23,791

Shares issued under share option scheme (note 35(b)(ii))

     1         138         (7     —           —          —           —          132        —           132   

Transfer to PRC statutory reserves (note 35(c)(ii))

     —           —           —          —           —          23,077         (23,077     —          —           —     
                                                                                     

As at December 31, 2009

     2,139         386,375         (291,972     72         (1,039     129,918         281,255        506,748        886         507,634   
                                                                                     

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

For the year ended December 31, 2010 (Continued)

(Expressed in Renminbi)

 

     Attributable to equity shareholders of the Company              
     Share
capital
     Share
premium
     Capital
reserve
    General
reserve
     Exchange
reserve
    PRC
statutory
reserves
     Retained
profits
    Total     Non-controlling
interests
    Total equity  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million     RMB million      RMB million     RMB million      RMB million     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

As at January 1, 2010

     2,139         386,375         (291,972     72         (1,039     129,918         281,255        506,748        886        507,634   

Changes in equity for 2010:

                        

Profit for the year

     —           —           —          —           —          —           119,640        119,640        384        120,024   

Other comprehensive income

     —           —           —          —           (135     —           —          (135     —          (135
                                                                                    

Total comprehensive income for the year

     —           —           —          —           (135     —           119,640        119,505        384        119,889   

Dividends approved in respect of the previous year (note 35(a) (ii))

     —           —           —          —           —          —           (25,651     (25,651     —          (25,651

Dividends declared in respect of the current year (note 35(a)(i))

     —           —           —          —           —          —           (24,550     (24,550     (24     (24,574

Shares issued under share option scheme (note 35(b)(ii))

     —           101         (8     —           —          —           —          93        —          93   

Transfer to PRC statutory reserves (note 35(c)(ii))

     —           —           —          —           —          24,260         (24,248     12        —          12   
                                                                                    

As at December 31, 2010

     2,139         386,476         (291,980     72         (1,174     154,178         326,446        576,157        1,246        577,403   
                                                                                    

The notes on pages F-12 to F-74 form part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

Consolidated cash flow statement

For the year ended December 31, 2010

(Expressed in Renminbi)

 

     Note      2010     2009     2008  
            RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

Operating activities

         

Profit before taxation

        159,071        153,836        149,523   

Adjustments for:

         

- Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

     13         86,230        80,179        71,509   

- Amortization of other intangible assets

     5         62        56        204   

- Amortization of land lease prepayments

        298        261        279   

- Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

     5         —          11        (8

- Write-off of property, plant and equipment

     5         2,763        4,493        3,250   

- Impairment loss of doubtful accounts

     5         4,019        4,503        4,385   

- Impairment loss of inventories

     5         55        16        6   

- Interest income

        (5,658     (5,940     (6,002

- Finance costs

     8         902        1,243        1,550   

- Dividend income from unlisted securities

     7         (17     (18     (15

- share of profit of associate

        (558     —          —     

- Share of loss of jointly controlled entity

     19         18        8        —     

- Equity-settled share-based payment expenses

        —          —          222   

- Unrealized exchange loss/(gain), net

     7         6        (3     32   
                           

Operating cashflow before changes in working capital

        247,191        238,645        224,935   

Increase in inventories

        (457     (369     (205

Increase in accounts receivable

        (5,232     (3,945     (4,309

Decrease in other receivables

        170        127        270   

Increase in prepayments and other current assets

        (1,087     (1,423     (1,961

(Increase)/decrease in amount due from ultimate holding company

        (268     84        (31

Increase in accounts payable

        5,704        2,598        3,245   

(Decrease)/increase in bills payable

        (1     25        4   

Increase in deferred revenue

        7,847        2,376        2,847   

Increase in accrued expenses and other payables

        16,369        11,946        10,031   

Increase/(decrease) in amount due to ultimate holding company

        11        (2     (20
                           

Cash generated from operations

        270,247        250,062        234,806   

Tax paid

         

- Hong Kong profits tax paid

        (99     (80     (96

- PRC enterprise income tax paid

        (38,769     (42,859     (41,063
                           

Net cash generated from operating activities carried forward

        231,379        207,123        193,647   
                           

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

Consolidated cash flow statement

For the year ended December 31, 2010 (Continued)

(Expressed in Renminbi)

 

     Note     2010     2009     2008  
           RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

Net cash generated from operating activities brought forward

       231,379        207,123        193,647   
                          

Investing activities

        

Capital expenditure

       (113,203     (115,314     (120,816

Land lease prepayments

       (1,135     (1,361     (1,998

Acquisition of other intangible assets

       (162     (484     (37

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

       12        13        22   

Increase in deposits with banks

       (19,190     (54,780     (21,148

Increase in pledged bank deposits

       (162     —          —     

Increase in trust loan receivable

       (2,700     —          —     

Interest received

       4,588        5,988        4,943   

Acquisition of investment in an associate

       (39,617     —          —     

Acquisition of investment in a jointly controlled entity

     19        (20     (7     (7

Dividends received from unlisted securities

     7        17        18        15   
                          

Net cash used in investing activities

       (171,572     (165,927     (139,026
                          

Financing activities

        

Proceeds from issuance of shares under share option scheme

     35 (b)(ii)      93        132        465   

Interest paid

       (919     (1,292     (1,569

Dividends paid to the Company’s equity shareholders

     35 (a)      (50,201     (48,614     (44,560

Dividends paid by subsidiaries to non-controlling interests

       (24     —          (20
                          

Net cash used in financing activities

       (51,051     (49,774     (45,684
                          

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

       8,756        (8,578     8,937   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

       78,894        87,426        78,859   

Effect of changes in foreign exchange rate

       (107     46        (370
                          

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

     27        87,543        78,894        87,426   
                          

Significant non-cash transactions

The Group recorded payables of RMB61,457,000,000 (2009: RMB52,427,000,000; 2008: RMB42,933,000,000) and RMB451,000,000 (2009:RMB591,000,000; 2008: RMB2,084,000,000) to equipment suppliers and banks respectively as at December 31, 2010 for additions of construction in progress during the year then ended.

The notes on pages F-12 to F-74 form part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-11


Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

Notes to consolidated financial statements

(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)

 

1 Significant accounting policies

 

(a) Statement of compliance

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with all applicable International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”), which collective term includes all applicable individual International Financial Reporting Standards, International Accounting Standards (“IASs”) and Interpretations issued by the IASB. These consolidated financial statements were authorized for issuance on March 16, 2011. A summary of the significant accounting policies adopted by the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the “Group”) is set out below.

 

(b) Basis of preparation of the financial statements

The consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 comprise the Group, the Group’s interest in associates and a jointly controlled entity.

The measurement basis used in the preparation of the financial statements is the historical cost basis.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRSs requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making the judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

Judgements made by management in the application of IFRSs that have significant effect on the financial statements and major sources of estimation uncertainty are discussed in note 43.

 

F-12


Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(c) Subsidiaries and non-controlling interests

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. Control exists when the Group has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. In assessing control, potential voting rights that presently are exercisable are taken into account.

An investment in a subsidiary is consolidated into the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases. Intra-group balances and transactions and any unrealized profits arising from intra-group transactions are eliminated in full in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Unrealized losses resulting from intra-group transactions are eliminated in the same way as unrealized gains but only to the extent that there is no evidence of impairment.

Non-controlling interests (previously known as “minority interests”) represent the equity in a subsidiary not attributable directly or indirectly to the Company, and in respect of which the Group has not agreed any additional terms with the holders of those interests which would result in the Group as a whole having a contractual obligation in respect of those interests that meets the definition of a financial liability. For each business combination, the Group can elect to measure any non-controlling interests either at fair value or at their proportionate share of the subsidiary’s net identifiable assets.

Non-controlling interests are presented in the consolidated balance sheet within equity, separately from equity attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company. Non-controlling interests in the results of the Group are presented on the face of the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as an allocation of the total profit or loss and total comprehensive income for the year between non-controlling interests and the equity shareholders of the Company.

Changes in the Group’s interests in a subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions, whereby adjustments are made to the amounts of controlling and non-controlling interests within consolidated equity to reflect the change in relative interests, but no adjustments are made to goodwill and no gain or loss is recognized.

When the Group loses control of a subsidiary, it is accounted for as a disposal of the entire interest in that subsidiary, with a resulting gain or loss being recognized in profit or loss. Any interest retained in that former subsidiary at the date when control is lost is recognized at fair value and this amount is regarded as the fair value on initial recognition of a financial asset (see note 1(g)) or, when appropriate, the cost on initial recognition of an investment in an associate or jointly controlled entity (see note 1(d)).

 

(d) Associates and jointly controlled entities

An associate is an entity in which the Group has significant influence, but not control or joint control, over its management, including participation in the financial and operating policy decisions.

A jointly controlled entity is an entity which operates under a contractual arrangement between the Group or the Company and other parties, where the contractual arrangement establishes that the Group or the Company and one or more of the other parties share joint control over the economic activity of the entity.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(d) Associates and jointly controlled entities (continued)

 

An investment in an associate or a jointly controlled entity is accounted for in the consolidated financial statements under the equity method.

Under the equity method, the investment is initially recorded at cost, adjusted for any excess of the Group’s share of the acquisition-date fair values of the investee’s identifiable net assets over the cost of the investment (if any). Thereafter, the investment is adjusted for the post-acquisition change in the Group’s share of the investee’s net assets and any impairment loss relating to the investment (see notes 1(j)). The Group’s share of the post-acquisition, post-tax results of the investee and any impairment losses for the year are recognized as share of profit or loss in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, whereas the Group’s share of the post-acquisition post-tax items of the investee’s other comprehensive income is recognized as other comprehensive income in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

When the Group’s share of losses exceeds its interest in the associate or the jointly controlled entity, the Group’s interest is reduced to nil and recognition of further losses is discontinued except to the extent that the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of the investee. For this purpose, the Group’s interest in the investee is the carrying amount of the investment under the equity method together with the Group’s long-term interests that in substance form part of the Group’s net investment in the associate or the jointly controlled entity.

Unrealized profits and losses resulting from transactions between the Group and its associates and a jointly controlled entity are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in the investee, except where unrealized losses provide evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred, in which case they are recognized immediately in profit or loss.

 

(e) Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of

 

(i) the aggregate of the fair value of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the fair value of the Group’s previously held equity interest in the acquiree; over

 

(ii) the net fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable assets and liabilities measured as at the acquisition date.

When (ii) is greater than (i), then this excess is recognised immediately in profit or loss as a gain on a bargain purchase.

Goodwill is stated at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill arising on a business combination is allocated to each cash-generating units, or groups of cash generating units, that is expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination and is tested annually for impairment (see note 1(j)).

On disposal of a cash-generating unit during the year, any attributable amount of purchased goodwill is included in the calculation of the gain or loss on disposal.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(f) Other intangible assets

Other intangible assets that are acquired by the Group are stated in the balance sheet at cost less accumulated amortization (where the estimated useful life is finite) and impairment losses (see note 1(j)). The useful lives of other intangible assets are assessed to be either finite or indefinite. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over the useful economic lives and assessed for impairment whenever there is an indication that the intangible assets may be impaired. The amortization period and the amortization method for an intangible asset with a finite useful life are reviewed annually. The amortization of the intangible assets with finite lives is recorded in other operating expenses.

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment annually either individually or at the cash-generating unit level. Such intangible assets are not amortized. Any conclusion that the useful life of an intangible asset is indefinite is reviewed annually to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support the indefinite useful life assessment for that asset. If they do not, the change in useful life assessment from indefinite to finite is accounted for prospectively from the date of change and in accordance with the policy for amortization of intangible assets with finite lives as set out above.

 

(i) Brand names

Brand names are stated at cost less impairment losses (see note 1(j)).

 

(ii) Customer base, licenses and others

Customer base, licenses and others are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment losses (see note 1(j)) and are amortized using a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives from 2 to 15 years.

 

(g) Other investments in equity securities

The Group’s policies for investments in equity securities, other than investments in subsidiaries, associates and a jointly controlled entity, are as follows:

Investments in equity securities that do not have a quoted market price in an active market and whose fair value cannot be reliably measured are recognized in the balance sheet at cost less impairment losses (see note 1(j)).

Investments are recognized/derecognized on the date the Group commits to purchase/sell the investments.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(h) Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated in the balance sheet at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses (see note 1(j)).

The cost of property, plant and equipment comprises the purchase price and any directly attributable costs of bringing the asset to its working condition and location for its intended use. Subsequent expenditure relating to an item of property, plant and equipment that has already been recognized is added to the carrying amount of the asset when it is probable that future economic benefits, in excess of the originally assessed standard of performance of the existing asset, will flow to the enterprise. All other subsequent expenditure is recognized as an expense in the period in which it is incurred.

Gains or losses arising from the retirement or disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment are determined as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the item and are recognized in profit or loss on the date of retirement or disposal.

Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost of items of property, plant and equipment, less their estimated residual value, if any, using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:

 

Buildings

     8 - 35 years   

Telecommunications transceivers, switching centers, transmission and other network equipment

     5 - 10 years   

Office equipment, furniture and fixtures and others

     4 - 18 years   

Where parts of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, the cost of the item is allocated on a reasonable basis between the parts and each part is depreciated separately. Both the useful life of an asset and its residual value, if any, are reviewed annually.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(i) Leased assets

An arrangement, comprising a transaction or a series of transactions, is or contains a lease if the Group determines that the arrangement conveys a right to use a specific asset or assets for an agreed period of time in return for a payment or a series of payments. Such a determination is made on an evaluation of the substance of the arrangement and is regardless of whether the arrangement takes the legal form of a lease.

 

(i) Classification of assets leased to the Group

Assets that are held by the Group under leases which transfer to the Group substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as being held under finance leases. Leases which do not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the Group are classified as operating leases.

 

(ii) Assets acquired under finance leases

Where the Group acquires the use of assets under finance leases, the amounts representing the fair value of the leased asset, or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments of such assets are included in property, plant and equipment and the corresponding liabilities, net of finance charges, are recorded as obligations under finance leases. Depreciation is provided for at rates, which write off the cost of the assets over the term of the relevant lease or, where it is likely the Group will obtain ownership of the asset, the life of the asset, as set out in note 1(h). Impairment losses are accounted for in accordance with the accounting policy as set out in note 1(j). Finance charges implicit in the lease payments are charged to profit or loss over the period of the leases so as to produce an approximately constant periodic rate of charge on the remaining balance of the obligations for each accounting period. Contingent rentals are charged to profit or loss in the accounting period in which they are incurred. There were no contingent rentals recognized by the Group during the years presented.

 

(iii) Operating lease charges

Where the Group has the use of assets held under operating leases, payments made under the leases are charged to profit or loss in equal instalments over the accounting periods covered by the lease term, except where an alternative basis is more representative of the pattern of benefits to be derived from the leased asset. Lease incentives received are recognized in profit or loss as an integral part of the aggregate net lease payments made. Contingent rentals are charged to profit or loss in the accounting period in which they are incurred. There were no contingent rentals recognized by the Group during the years presented.

The cost of acquiring land held under an operating lease is amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease term.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(j) Impairment of assets

 

(i) Impairment of investments in equity securities and receivables

Investments in equity securities and other receivables that are stated at cost or amortized cost are reviewed at the end of each reporting date to determine whether there is objective evidence of impairment. Objective evidence of impairment includes observable data that comes to the attention of the Group about one or more of the following loss events:

 

   

significant financial difficulty of the debtor;

 

   

a breach of contract, such as a default or delinquency in interest or principal payments;

 

   

it becoming probable that the debtor will enter bankruptcy or other financial reorganization;

 

   

significant changes in the technological, market, economic or legal environment that have an adverse effect on the debtor; and

 

   

a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of an investment in an equity instrument below its cost.

If any such evidence exists, impairment loss is determined and recognized as follows:

 

   

For investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities (including those recognized using the equity method (see note 1(d)), the impairment loss is measured by comparing the recoverable amount of the investment with its carrying amount in accordance with note 1(j)(ii). The impairment loss is reversed if there has been a favourable change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount in accordance with note 1(j)(ii).

 

   

For unquoted equity securities carried at cost, the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the carrying amount of the financial asset and the estimated future cash flows, discounted at the current market rate of return for a similar financial asset where the effect of discounting is material. Impairment losses for equity securities are not reversed.

 

   

For trade and other current receivables and other financial assets carried at amortized cost, the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate (i.e. the effective interest rate computed at initial recognition of these assets), where the effect of discounting is material. This assessment is made collectively where financial assets carried at amortized cost share similar risk characteristics, such as similar past due status, and have not been individually assessed as impaired. Future cash flows for financial assets which are assessed for impairment collectively are based on historical loss experience for assets with credit risk characteristics similar to the collective group.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(j) Impairment of assets (continued)

 

(i) Impairment of investments in equity securities and receivables (continued)

 

If in a subsequent period the amount of impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be linked objectively to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognized, the impairment loss is reversed through profit or loss. A reversal of an impairment loss shall not result in the asset’s carrying amount exceeding that which would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized in prior years.

Impairment losses are written off against the corresponding assets directly, except for impairment losses recognized in respect of debtors included within trade and other receivables, whose recovery is considered doubtful but not remote. In this case, the impairment losses for doubtful debts are recorded using an allowance account. When the Group is satisfied that recovery is remote, the amount considered irrecoverable is written off against trade debtors directly and any amounts held in the allowance account relating to that debt are reversed. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously charged to the allowance account are reversed against the allowance account. Other changes in the allowance account and subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off directly are recognized in profit or loss.

 

(ii) Impairment of other assets

Internal and external sources of information are reviewed at the end of each reporting period to identify indications that the following assets may be impaired or, except in the case of goodwill, an impairment loss previously recognized no longer exists or may have decreased:

 

   

property, plant and equipment;

 

   

construction in progress;

 

   

prepaid interests in leasehold land classified as being held under an operating lease;

 

   

goodwill; and

 

   

other intangible assets.

If any such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. For goodwill and other intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives, the recoverable amount is estimated annually whether or not there is any indication of impairment.

 

   

Calculation of recoverable amount

The recoverable amount of an asset is the greater of its fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. Where an asset does not generate cash inflows largely independent of those from other assets, the recoverable amount is determined for the smallest group of assets that generates cash inflows independently (i.e. a cash-generating unit).

 

F-19


Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(j) Impairment of assets (continued)

 

   

Recognition of impairment losses

An impairment loss is recognized in profit or loss if the carrying amount of an asset, or the cash-generating unit to which it belongs, exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses recognized in respect of cash-generating units are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the cash-generating unit (or group of units) and then, to reduce the carrying amount of the other assets in the unit (or group of units) on a pro rata basis, except that the carrying value of an asset will not be reduced below its individual fair value less costs to sell, or value in use, if determinable.

 

   

Reversals of impairment losses

In respect of assets other than goodwill, an impairment loss is reversed if there has been a favourable change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed.

A reversal of an impairment loss is limited to the asset’s carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized in prior years. Reversals of impairment losses are credited to profit or loss in the year in which the reversals are recognized.

 

(iii) Interim financial reporting and impairment

The Group prepares an interim financial report in compliance with IAS34, Interim financial reporting, in respect of the first six months of the financial year. At the end of the interim period, the Group applies the same impairment testing, recognition, and reversal criteria as it would at the end of the financial year (see notes 1(j)(i) and (ii)).

Impairment losses recognized in an interim period in respect of goodwill and unquoted equity securities carried at cost are not reversed in a subsequent period. This is the case even if no losses, or a smaller loss, would have been recognized had the impairment been assessed only at the end of the financial year to which the interim period relates. No impairment losses were recognized in respect of goodwill and unquoted equity securities carried at cost during the interim period.

 

(k) Construction in progress

Construction in progress is stated at cost less impairment losses (see note 1(j)). Cost comprises direct costs of construction as well as interest expense and exchange differences capitalized during the periods of construction and installation. Capitalization of these costs ceases and the construction in progress is transferred to property, plant and equipment when substantially all the activities necessary to prepare the assets for their intended use are completed. No depreciation is provided for in respect of construction in progress until it is completed and ready for its intended use. No exchange difference was capitalized to construction in progress during the years presented.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(l) Inventories

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost represents purchase cost of goods calculated using the weighted average cost method. Net realizable value is determined by reference to the sales proceeds of items sold in the ordinary course of business or to management’s estimates based on prevailing market conditions.

When inventories are sold, the carrying amount of those inventories is recognized as a deduction of other net income due to its insignificance. The amount of any write-down of inventories to net realisable value and all losses of inventories are recognized as an expense in the period the write-down or loss occurs. The amount of any reversal of any write-down of inventories, arising from an increase in net realizable value, is recognized as a reduction in the amount of inventories recognized as an expense in the period in which the reversal occurs. No reversal of any write-down of inventories occurred during the years presented.

 

(m) Accounts receivable and other receivables

Accounts receivable and other receivables are initially recognized at fair value and thereafter stated at amortized cost less impairment losses for doubtful accounts (see note 1(j)), except where the effect of discounting would be immaterial. In such case, the receivables are stated at cost less impairment losses for doubtful accounts (see note 1(j)).

 

(n) Deferred revenue

Deferred revenue consists primarily of prepaid service fees received from customers, revenue deferred for unredeemed point rewards under Customer Point Reward Program (Reward Program) and deferred tax credit on purchase of domestic telecommunications equipment.

Revenue from prepaid service fees are recognized when the mobile telecommunications services are rendered.

Revenue deferred for unredeemed point rewards are recognized when such rewards are redeemed or expire.

Deferred tax credit on purchase of domestic telecommunications equipment is amortized over the remaining lives of the related equipment as a reduction to income tax expense.

 

(o) Interest-bearing borrowings

Interest-bearing borrowings are recognized initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, interest-bearing borrowings are stated at amortized cost with any difference between the amount initially recognized and redemption value being recognized in profit or loss over the period of the borrowings, together with any interest and fees payable, using the effective interest method.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(p) Accounts payable and other payables

Accounts payable and other payables are initially recognized at fair value and subsequently stated at amortized cost unless the effect of discounting would be immaterial, in which case they are stated at cost.

 

(q) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks, and short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value, having been within three months of maturity at acquisition.

 

(r) Revenue recognition

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable. Provided it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Group and the revenue and costs, if applicable, can be measured reliably, revenue is recognized in profit or loss as follows:

 

  (i) usage fees, value-added services fees and other operating revenue are recognized as revenue when the service is rendered;

 

  (ii) monthly fees are recognized as revenue in the month during which the service is rendered;

 

  (iii) deferred revenue from prepaid services is recognized as revenue when the mobile telecommunications services are delivered based upon actual usage by customers;

 

  (iv) sales of SIM cards and handsets are recognized on delivery of goods to the buyer and such amount, net of cost of goods sold, is included in other net income due to its insignificance;

 

  (v) interest income is recognized as it accrues using the effective interest method; and

 

  (vi) revenue from a fixed price contract is recognized using the percentage of completion method.

 

(s) Income tax

Income tax for the year comprises current tax and movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Current tax and movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized in profit or loss except to the extent that they relate to business combination, or items recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in which case the relevant amounts of tax are recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities arise from deductible and taxable temporary differences respectively, being the differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets also arise from unused tax losses and unused tax credits.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(s) Income tax (continued)

 

Apart from certain limited exceptions, all deferred tax liabilities, and all deferred tax assets to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilized, are recognized. Future taxable profits that may support the recognition of deferred tax assets arising from deductible temporary differences include those that will arise from the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, provided those differences relate to the same taxation authority and the same taxable entity, and are expected to reverse either in the same period as the expected reversal of the deductible temporary difference or in periods into which a tax loss arising from the deferred tax asset can be carried back or forward. The same criteria are adopted when determining whether existing taxable temporary differences support the recognition of deferred tax assets arising from unused tax losses and credits, that is, those differences are taken into account if they relate to the same taxation authority and the same taxable entity, and are expected to reverse in a period, or periods, in which the tax loss or credit can be utilized.

The limited exceptions to recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities are those temporary differences arising from goodwill not deductible for tax purposes, the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit (provided they are not part of a business combination), and temporary differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that, in the case of taxable differences, the Group controls the timing of the reversal and it is probable that the differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future, or in the case of deductible differences, unless it is probable that they will reverse in the future.

The amount of deferred tax recognized is measured based on the expected manner of realization or settlement of the carrying amount of the assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.

The carrying amount of a deferred tax asset is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and is reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow the related tax benefit to be utilized. Any such reduction is reversed to the extent that it becomes probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available.

Current tax balances and deferred tax balances, and movements therein, are presented separately from each other and are not offset. Current tax assets are offset against current tax liabilities, and deferred tax assets against deferred tax liabilities, if the Group has the legal, enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and the following additional conditions are met:

 

   

in the case of current tax assets and liabilities, the Group intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously; or

 

   

in the case of deferred tax assets and liabilities, if they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either:

 

   

the same taxable entity; or

 

   

different taxable entities, which, in each future period in which significant amounts of deferred tax liabilities or assets are expected to be settled or recovered, intend to realize the current tax assets and settle the current tax liabilities on a net basis or realize and settle simultaneously.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(t) Provisions and contingent liabilities

Provisions are recognized for liabilities of uncertain timing or amount when the Group has a legal or constructive obligation arising as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made. Where the time value of money is material, provisions are stated at the present value of the expenditures expected to settle the obligation.

Where it is not probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required, or the amount cannot be estimated reliably, the obligation is disclosed as a contingent liability, unless the probability of outflow of economic benefits is remote. Possible obligations, whose existence will only be confirmed by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more future events are also disclosed as contingent liabilities unless the probability of outflow of economic benefits is remote.

 

(u) Employee benefits

 

(i) Short term employee benefits and contributions to defined contribution retirement plans

Salaries, annual bonuses, paid annual leave, leave passage, contributions to defined contribution plans and the cost of non-monetary benefits are accrued in the year in which the associated services are rendered by employees. Where payment or settlement is deferred and the effect would be material, these amounts are stated at their present values.

The Company and subsidiaries incorporated in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC (“Hong Kong”) are required to make contributions to Mandatory Provident Funds under the Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance. Such contributions are recognized as an expense in profit or loss as incurred.

The employees of the subsidiaries in Mainland China (For the purpose of preparing these financial statements, Mainland China refers to the People’s Republic of China (“the PRC”) excluding Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region of the PRC and Taiwan.) participate in the defined contribution retirement plans managed by the local government authorities whereby the subsidiaries are required to contribute to the schemes at fixed rates of the employees’ salary costs. In addition to the local governmental defined contribution retirement plans, certain subsidiaries also participate in supplementary defined contribution retirement plans managed by independent insurance companies whereby the subsidiaries are required to make contributions to the retirement plans at fixed rates of the employees’ salary costs or in accordance with the terms of the plans. The Group’s contributions to these plans are charged to profit or loss when incurred. The subsidiaries have no obligations for the payment of retirement and other post-retirement benefits of staff other than the contributions described above.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(u) Employee benefits (continued)

 

(ii) Share-based payments

The fair value of share options granted to employees is recognized as an employee cost with a corresponding increase in a capital reserve within equity. The fair value is measured at grant date using the binomial lattice model, taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the options were granted. Where the employees have to meet vesting conditions before becoming unconditionally entitled to the options, the total estimated fair value of the options is spread over the vesting period, taking into account the probability that the options will vest.

During the vesting period, the number of share options that is expected to vest is reviewed. Any resulting adjustment to the cumulative fair value recognized in prior years is charged/credited to the profit or loss for the year of the review, unless the original employee expenses qualify for recognition as an asset, with a corresponding adjustment to the capital reserve. On vesting date, the amount recognized as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of share options that vest (with a corresponding adjustment to the capital reserve) except where forfeiture is only due to not achieving vesting conditions that relate to the market price of the Company’s shares. The equity amount is recognized in the capital reserve until either the option is exercised (when it is transferred to the share premium account) or the option expires (when it is released directly to retained profits).

 

(iii) Termination benefits

Termination benefits are recognized when, and only when, the Group demonstrably commits itself to terminate employment or to provide benefits as a result of voluntary redundancy by having a detailed formal plan which is without realistic possibility of withdrawal.

 

(v) Borrowing costs

Borrowing costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of an asset which necessarily takes a substantial period of time to get ready for its intended use or sale are capitalized as part of the cost of that asset. Other borrowing costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

The capitalization of borrowing costs as part of the cost of a qualifying asset commences when expenditure for the asset is being incurred, borrowing costs are being incurred and activities that are necessary to prepare the asset for its intended use or sale are in progress. Capitalization of borrowing costs is suspended or ceased when substantially all the activities necessary to prepare the qualifying asset for its intended use or sale are interrupted or completed.

 

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Table of Contents

China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(w) Translation of foreign currencies

The primary functional currency of entities within the Group is Renminbi (“RMB”). The Group adopted RMB as its presentation currency in the preparation of the annual financial statements, which is the currency of the primary economic environment in which most of the Group’s entities operate.

Foreign currency transactions during the year are translated at the foreign exchange rates ruling at the transaction dates. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated at the foreign exchange rates ruling at the balance sheet date. Exchange gains and losses are recognized in profit or loss.

Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the foreign exchange rates ruling at the transaction dates. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that are stated at fair value are translated using the foreign exchange rates ruling at the dates the fair value was determined.

The results of overseas entities are translated into RMB at the exchange rates approximating the foreign exchange rate ruling at the dates of transactions. Balance sheets items are translated into RMB at the exchange rates ruling at the balance sheet date. The resulting exchange differences are recognized in other comprehensive income and accumulated separately in equity in the exchange reserve. On disposal of an overseas entity, the cumulative amount of the exchange differences relating to that particular foreign operation is reclassified from equity to profit or loss when the profit or loss on disposal is recognized.

For the purpose of the consolidated cash flow statements, the cash flows of overseas entities within the Group are translated into RMB by using the exchange rates approximating the foreign exchange rate ruling at the dates of the cash flows.

 

(x) Related parties

For the purposes of these financial statements, a party is considered to be related to the Group if:

 

  (i) the party has the ability, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, to control the Group or exercise significant influence over the Group in making financial and operating policy decisions, or has joint control over the Group;

 

  (ii) the Group and the party are subject to common control;

 

  (iii) the party is an associate of the Group or a joint venture in which the Group is a venturer;

 

  (iv) the party is a member of key management personnel of the Group or the Group’s parent, or a close family member of such an individual, or is an entity under the control, joint control or significant influence of such individuals;

 

  (v) the party is a close family member of a party referred to in (i) or is an entity under the control, joint control or significant influence of such individuals; or

 

  (vi) the party is a post-employment benefit plan which is for the benefit of employees of the Group or of any entity that is a related party of the Group.

Close family members of an individual are those family members who may be expected to influence, or be influenced by, that individual in their dealings with the entity.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

1 Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

(y) Segment reporting

An operating segment is a component of the Group that engages in business activities from which the Group may earn revenues and incur expenses, and is identified on the basis of the internal financial reports that are provided to and regularly reviewed by the Group’s chief operating decision maker in order to allocate resource and assess performance of the segment. For the periods presented, the Group has no operating segments since the Group is only engaged in mobile telecommunication and related business. No Group’s geographical information has been disclosed as the majority of the Group’s operating activities are carried out in Mainland China. The Group’s assets located and operating revenues derived from activities outside Mainland China are less than 5% of the Group’s assets and operating revenues, respectively.

 

2 Changes in accounting policies

The IASB has issued a number of new or revised IFRSs that are first effective or available for early adoption for accounting periods beginning on or after January 1 2010.

Of these, the following developments are relevant to the Group’s financial statements:

 

   

IFRS 3 (revised), Business combinations

 

   

IAS 27 (amended), Consolidated and separate financial statements

 

   

Amendments to IFRS 2, Share based payment - Group cash-settled share-based payment transactions

 

   

Improvements to IFRSs (2009)

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

2 Changes in accounting policies (continued)

 

These developments have had no material impact on the Group’s financial statements.

The Group has not applied any new standard or interpretation that is not yet effective for the current accounting period (see note 44).

 

3 Turnover

The principal activities of the Group are the provision of mobile telecommunications and related services in thirty-one provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of Mainland China and Hong Kong. The principal activity of the Company is investment holding.

Turnover represents mainly usage fees, monthly fees, value-added services fees and other operating revenue derived from the Group’s mobile telecommunications networks, net of the PRC business tax. Business tax is charged at approximately 3% of the corresponding revenue generated from the service rendered in Mainland China. No business tax is charged on the revenue generated from the Group’s mobile telecommunications and related services in Hong Kong.

Value-added services fees are mainly derived from voice value-added services, short message services (“SMS”), Mobile Internet Access services, and other data services.

Other operating revenue mainly represents interconnection revenue.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

4 Personnel

 

     2010      2009      2008  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Salaries, wages and other benefits

     22,039         19,316         17,829   

Retirement costs: contributions to defined contribution retirement plans

     2,485         2,164         1,909   

Equity-settled share-based payment expenses

     —           —           222   
                          
     24,524         21,480         19,960   
                          

 

5 Other operating expenses

 

     2010      2009      2008  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Selling and promotion

     90,590         80,043         66,573   

Maintenance

     31,390         28,109         25,761   

Impairment loss of doubtful accounts

     4,019         4,503         4,385   

Impairment loss of inventories

     55         16         6   

Amortization of other intangible assets

     62         56         204   

Operating lease charges

        

-land and buildings

     7,208         6,449         5,723   

-others (Note 1)

     2,631         2,302         2,591   

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

     —           11         (8

Write-off of property, plant and equipment

     2,763         4,493         3,250   

Auditors’ remuneration

        

-audit services (Note 2)

     83         80         76   

-tax services (Note 3)

     1         —           —     

-other services (Note 4)

     11         9         3   

Others (Note 5)

     59,127         52,512         44,477   
                          
     197,940         178,583         153,041   
                          

Notes:

(1) Other operating lease charges represent the operating lease charges for network capacity, motor vehicles, computer and other office equipment.
(2) Audit services include reporting on the Group’s internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of the United States of America (“SOX 404”) of RMB19,000,000 (2009: RMB19,000,000; 2008: RMB17,800,000).
(3) Tax services include tax compliance services for the Group of RMB1,000,000 (2009: RMB72,000; 2008: RMB55,000).
(4) Other services include SOX 404 advisory services and other IT related advisory services.
(5) Others consist of office expenses, utilities charges, travelling expenses, entertainment expenses, spectrum charges, consultancy and professional fees, consumables and supplies, labour services expenses and other miscellaneous expenses.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

6 Other net income

 

     2010     2009     2008  
     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

Sales of SIM cards and handsets

     5,451        7,754        10,090   

Cost of SIM cards and handsets

     (4,361     (5,974     (7,931

Others

     1,246        —          —     
                        
     2,336        1,780        2,159   
                        

 

7 Non-operating net income

 

     2010     2009      2008  
     RMB million     RMB million      RMB million  

Exchange (loss)/gain

     (6     3         (32

Penalty income

     257        265         222   

Dividend income from unlisted securities

     17        18         15   

Others

     417        73         312   
                         
     685        359         517   
                         

 

8 Finance costs

 

     2010      2009      2008  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Interest on bank loans and other borrowings repayable after five years

     431         777         1,026   

Interest on bonds

     471         466         524   
                          
     902         1,243         1,550   
                          

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

9 Directors’ remuneration

Directors’ remuneration is as follows:

 

     Directors’
Fees
     Salaries,
allowances
and benefits
in kind
     Performance
related
bonuses
     Retirement
scheme
contributions
     2010
Total
 

(Expressed in Hong Kong dollar)

              
     ‘000         ‘000         ‘000         ‘000         ‘000   

Executive directors

              

WANG Jianzhou

     180         1,172         660         286         2,298   

ZHANG Chunjiang (removed on January 7, 2010)

     3         16         —           3         22   

LI Yue

     180         1,005         600         245         2,030   

LU Xiangdong

     180         960         540         234         1,914   

XUE Taohai

     180         960         540         234         1,914   

HUANG Wenlin

     180         960         540         234         1,914   

SHA Yuejia

     180         960         540         233         1,913   

LIU Aili

     180         960         540         233         1,913   

XIN Fanfei

     180         960         540         229         1,909   

XU Long

     180         950         540         232         1,902   

Independent non-executive directors

              

LO Ka Shui

     505         —           —           —           505   

WONG Kwong Shing, Frank

     440         —           —           —           440   

CHENG Mo Chi, Moses

     440         —           —           —           440   

Non-executive director

              

Nicholas Jonathan READ (resigned with effect from September 22, 2010)

     131         —           —           —           131   
                                            
     3,139         8,903         5,040         2,163         19,245   
                                            

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

9 Directors’ remuneration (continued)

 

     Directors’
Fees
     Salaries,
allowances
and benefits
in kind
     Performance
related
bonuses
     Retirement
scheme
contributions
     2009
Total
 

(Expressed in Hong Kong dollar)

              
     ‘000         ‘000         ‘000         ‘000         ‘000   

Executive directors

              

WANG Jianzhou

     180         1,172         660         286         2,298   

ZHANG Chunjiang

     180         1,067         600         260         2,107   

LI Yue

     180         960         540         234         1,914   

LU Xiangdong

     180         960         540         234         1,914   

XUE Taohai

     180         960         540         234         1,914   

HUANG Wenlin

     180         960         540         234         1,914   

SHA Yuejia

     180         960         540         233         1,913   

LIU Aili

     180         960         540         233         1,913   

XIN Fanfei

     180         960         540         229         1,909   

XU Long

     180         950         540         232         1,902   

Independent non-executive directors

              

LO Ka Shui

     505         —           —           —           505   

WONG Kwong Shing, Frank

     440         —           —           —           440   

CHENG Mo Chi, Moses

     440         —           —           —           440   

Non-executive director

              

Nicholas Jonathan READ (appointed on March 19, 2009)

     142         —           —           —           142   
                                            
     3,327         9,909         5,580         2,409         21,225   
                                            

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

10 Individuals with highest emoluments

For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, all of the five individuals with the highest emoluments are directors whose emoluments are disclosed in note 9.

 

11 Taxation

 

(a) Taxation in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income represents:

 

     2010     2009     2008  
     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

Current tax

      

Provision for Hong Kong profits tax on the estimated assessable profits for the year

     123        91        74   

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

     39,726        39,666        38,216   

Over-provision in respect of PRC enterprise income tax in prior years

     —          —          (24
                        
     39,849        39,757        38,266   

Deferred tax

      

Origination and reversal of temporary differences (note 20)

     (802     (1,344     (1,531
                        
     39,047        38,413        36,735   
                        

 

  (i) The provision of Hong Kong profits tax is calculated at 16.5% (2009 and 2008: 16.5%) of the estimated assessable profits for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

  (ii) The provision for the PRC enterprise income tax is based on the statutory rate of 25% of the taxable profits determined in accordance with the relevant income tax rules and regulations of the PRC for the year ended December 31, 2010, except for certain subsidiaries of the Company and certain operations of the subsidiaries located within special economic zones in the PRC, for which the applicable preferential tax rate was 20% and 22% for 2009 and 2010 and is increased to 24% and 25% for the years ending December 31, 2011 and 2012 onwards, respectively.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

11 Taxation (continued)

 

 

(b) Reconciliation between income tax expense and accounting profit at applicable tax rates:

 

     2010     2009     2008  
     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

Profit before taxation

     159,071        153,836        149,523   
                        

Notional tax on profit before tax, calculated at PRC’s statutory tax rate of 25% (note)

     39,768        38,459        37,382   

Tax effect of non-taxable items

      

- Interest income

     (3     (2     (16

- Share of profit of associate

     (139     —          —     

Tax effect of non-deductible expenses on the PRC operations

     562        699        653   

Tax effect of non-deductible expenses on Hong Kong operations

     111        155        261   

Rate differential on the PRC operations

     (561     (470     (874

Rate differential on Hong Kong operations

     1        35        96   

Effect of change in Hong Kong profits tax rate

     —          —          (6

Over-provision for PRC operations in prior years

     —          —          (24

Amortization of tax credit on purchase of domestic telecommunications equipment

     (352     (527     (644

Others

     (340     64        (93
                        

Taxation

     39,047        38,413        36,735   
                        

Note:

   The PRC’s statutory tax rate is adopted as the majority of the Group’s operations are subject to this rate.

 

(c) Current taxation in the consolidated balance sheet represents:

 

     2010     2009     2008  
     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

Provision for the PRC enterprise income tax for the year

     39,726        39,666        38,192   

Provision for Hong Kong profits tax for the year

     123        91        74   

Balance of the PRC enterprise income tax recoverable relating to prior year

     (17     (39     (124

The PRC enterprise income tax paid

     (30,730     (31,605     (26,853

Hong Kong profits tax paid

     (59     (51     (45
                        

Balance as at December 31

     9,043        8,062        11,244   

Add: Tax recoverable

     135        17        39   
                        

Tax payable

     9,178        8,079        11,283   
                        

 

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

12 Earnings per share

 

(a) Basic earnings per share

The calculation of basic earnings per share for the year is based on the profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of RMB119,640,000,000 (2009: RMB 115,166,000,000; 2008: RMB112,627,000,000) and the weighted average number of 20,062,910,111 shares (2009: 20,057,674,088 shares; 2008: 20,043,933,958 shares) in issue during the year, calculated as follows:

Weighted average number of shares

 

     2010
Number of shares
     2009
Number of shares
     2008
Number of shares
 

Issued shares as at January 1

     20,060,853,651         20,054,379,231         20,031,905,590   

Effect of share options exercised

     2,056,460         3,294,857         12,028,368   
                          

Weighted average number of shares as at December 31

     20,062,910,111         20,057,674,088         20,043,933,958   
                          

 

(b) Diluted earnings per share

The calculation of diluted earnings per share for the year is based on the profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of RMB119,640,000,000 (2009: RMB115,166,000,000; 2008: RMB112,627,000,000) and the weighted average number of 20,321,332,465 shares (2009: 20,312,459,133 shares; 2008: 20,356,125,657 shares), calculated as follows:

Weighted average number of shares (diluted)

 

     2010
Number of shares
     2009
Number of shares
     2008
Number of shares
 

Weighted average number of shares as at December 31

     20,062,910,111         20,057,674,088         20,043,933,958   

Effect of deemed issue of shares under the Company’s share option scheme for nil consideration

     258,422,354         254,785,045         312,191,699   
                          

Weighted average number of shares (diluted) as at December 31

     20,321,332,465         20,312,459,133         20,356,125,657   
                          

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

13 Property, plant and equipment

 

     Buildings     Telecommunication
transceivers,
switching

centers,
transmission

and other
network
equipment
    Office
equipment,
furniture

and fixtures
and others
    Total  
     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

Cost:

        

As at January 1, 2009

     63,674        544,837        22,065        630,576   

Additions

     648        1,427        1,203        3,278   

Transferred from construction in progress

     9,280        101,548        2,883        113,711   

Disposals

     (1     (8     (98     (107

Assets written-off

     (95     (35,788     (1,304     (37,187

Exchange differences

     —          (4     —          (4
                                

As at December 31, 2009

     73,506        612,012        24,749        710,267   
                                

As at January 1, 2010

     73,506        612,012        24,749        710,267   

Additions

     571        1,231        1,071        2,873   

Transferred from construction in progress

     11,742        95,876        3,756        111,374   

Disposals

     (2     (43     (37     (82

Assets written-off

     (254     (19,294     (1,596     (21,144

Exchange differences

     (1     (80     (3     (84
                                

As at December 31, 2010

     85,562        689,702        27,940        803,204   
                                

Accumulated depreciation:

        

As at January 1, 2009

     12,030        279,579        11,184        302,793   

Charge for the year

     3,253        74,133        2,793        80,179   

Written back on disposals

     —          (7     (76     (83

Assets written-off

     (77     (31,533     (1,084     (32,694

Exchange differences

     —          (3     —          (3
                                

As at December 31, 2009

     15,206        322,169        12,817        350,192   
                                

As at January 1, 2010

     15,206        322,169        12,817        350,192   

Charge for the year

     4,345        78,225        3,660        86,230   

Written back on disposals

     —          (40     (30     (70

Assets written-off

     (236     (16,666     (1,479     (18,381

Exchange differences

     —          (61     (2     (63
                                

As at December 31, 2010

     19,315        383,627        14,966        417,908   
                                

Net book value:

        

As at December 31, 2010

     66,247        306,075        12,974        385,296   
                                

As at December 31, 2009

     58,300        289,843        11,932        360,075   
                                

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

13 Property, plant and equipment (Continued)

 

Write-off of property, plant and equipment represents the retirement of individual network assets due to obsolescence or damages. Such assets have been disconnected from existing network, abandoned and demolished. Total net book value of the write-off of such assets were RMB2,763,000,000 in 2010 (2009: RMB4,493,000,000, 2008: RMB3,250,000,000). These assets were disposed of for scrap value, which was close to nil.

 

14 Construction in progress

 

     2010     2009  
     RMB million     RMB million  

Balance as at January 1

     46,094        35,482   

Additions

     120,148        124,323   

Transferred to property, plant and equipment

     (111,374     (113,711
                

Balance as at December 31

     54,868        46,094   
                

Construction in progress comprises expenditure incurred on the network expansion projects and construction of office buildings not yet completed as at December 31, 2010.

 

15 Goodwill

 

     2010      2009  
     RMB million      RMB million  

Cost and carrying amount:

     

As at January 1 and December 31

     36,894         36,894   
                 

Impairment tests for goodwill

As set out in IAS 36 Impairment of Assets, a cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generate cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash flows from other assets or groups of assets. For the purpose of impairment testing of goodwill, goodwill is allocated to a group of cash-generating units (being subsidiaries acquired in each acquisition). Such group of cash-generating units represent the lowest level within the Group for which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes.

The recoverable amount of the cash-generating units is determined based on value-in-use, which is calculated by using the discounted cash flow method. This method considers the cash flows of the subsidiaries (cash-generating units) for the five years ending December 31, 2015 with subsequent transition to perpetuity. For the years following the detailed planning period, the assumed continual growth of 0.5% for the operation in Hong Kong and 1% for operations in Mainland China to perpetuity are used which comply with general expectations for the business. The present value of cash flows is calculated by discounting the cash flow by pre-tax interest rate of approximately 10% (2009: 10%).

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

16 Other intangible assets

 

     Brand name      Customer
base
     License and
others
    Total  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million     RMB million  

Cost:

          

As at January 1, 2009

     184         516         416        1,116   

Additions

     —           —           485        485   
                                  

As at December 31, 2009

     184         516         901        1,601   
                                  

As at January 1, 2010

     184         516         901        1,601   

Additions

     —           —           162        162   

Exchange differences

     —           —           (23     (23
                                  

As at December 31, 2010

     184         516         1,040        1,740   
                                  

Accumulated amortization:

          

As at January 1, 2009

     —           516         302        818   

Amortization for the year

     —           —           56        56   
                                  

As at December 31, 2009

     —           516         358        874   
                                  

As at January 1, 2010

     —           516         358        874   

Amortization for the year

     —           —           62        62   

Exchange differences

     —           —           (9     (9
                                  

As at December 31, 2010

     —           516         411        927   
                                  

Net book value:

          

As at December 31, 2010

     184         —           629        813   
                                  

As at December 31, 2009

     184         —           543        727   
                                  

Impairment test for other intangible asset with indefinite useful life

The useful life of the brand name is assessed to be indefinite. The factors considered in the assessment of the useful life of the brand name include analysis of the market and competitive trends, product life cycles, brand extension opportunities and management’s long-term strategic development. Overall, these factors provided evidence that the brand name is expected to generate long-term net cash inflows to the Group indefinitely.

The recoverable amount of the brand name is estimated based on value-in-use calculations by discounting future cash flows of the cash-generating unit for which the brand name is allocated. This method considers cash flows of the subsidiary (cash-generating unit) for the five years ending December 31, 2015 with subsequent transition to perpetuity. For the years following the detailed planning period, the assumed continual growth of 0.5% to perpetuity is used which complies with general expectations for the business. The present value of cash flows is calculated by discounting the cash flow by a pre-tax interest rate of approximately 10% (2009: 10%).

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

17 Principal subsidiaries

The following list contains only the particulars of subsidiaries which principally affected the results, assets or liabilities of the Group. The class of shares held is ordinary unless otherwise stated.

 

              Proportion of
ownership interest
     
    Place of   Particulars            
    incorporation   of issued and     Held by the     Held by a      

Name of company

  and operation   paid up capital     Company     subsidiary    

Principal activity

Guangdong Mobile *

  PRC   RMB 5,594,840,700        100     —       

Mobile telecommunications operator

China Mobile Group Zhejiang Co., Ltd. *

  PRC   RMB 2,117,790,000        100     —       

Mobile telecommunications operator

Jiangsu Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Jiangsu Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 2,800,000,000        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Fujian Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Fujian Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 5,247,480,000        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Henan Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Henan Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 4,367,733,641        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Hainan Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Hainan Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 643,000,000        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Beijing Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Beijing Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 6,124,696,053        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Shanghai Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Shanghai Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 6,038,667,706        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Tianjin Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Tianjin Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 2,151,035,483        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

17 Principal subsidiaries (continued)

 

              Proportion of
ownership interest
     
    Place of   Particulars            
    incorporation   of issued and     Held by the     Held by a      

Name of company

  and operation   paid up capital     Company     subsidiary    

Principal activity

Hebei Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Hebei Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 4,314,668,600        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Liaoning Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Liaoning Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 5,140,126,680        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Shandong Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Shandong Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 6,341,851,146        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Guangxi Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Guangxi Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 2,340,750,100        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Anhui Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Anhui Co., Ltd. *

  PRC   RMB 4,099,495,494        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Jiangxi Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Jiangxi Co., Ltd. *

  PRC   RMB 2,932,824,234        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Chongqing Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Chongqing Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 3,029,645,401        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Sichuan Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Sichuan Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 7,483,625,572        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Hubei Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

17 Principal subsidiaries (continued)

 

              Proportion of
ownership interest
     
    Place of   Particulars            
    incorporation   of issued and     Held by the     Held by a      

Name of company

  and operation   paid up capital     Company     subsidiary    

Principal activity

China Mobile Group Hubei Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 3,961,279,556        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Hunan Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Hunan Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 4,015,668,593        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Shaanxi Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Shaanxi Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 3,171,267,431        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Shanxi Mobile Communication (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Shanxi Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 2,773,448,313        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Neimenggu Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Neimenggu Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 2,862,621,870        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Jilin Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Jilin Co., Ltd. *

  PRC   RMB 3,277,579,314        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Heilongjiang Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Heilongjiang Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 4,500,508,035        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Guizhou Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Guizhou Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 2,541,981,749        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

17 Principal subsidiaries (continued)

 

              Proportion of
ownership interest
     
    Place of   Particulars            
    incorporation   of issued and     Held by the     Held by a      

Name of company

  and operation   paid up capital     Company     subsidiary    

Principal activity

Yunnan Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Yunnan Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 4,137,130,733        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Xizang Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Xizang Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 848,643,686        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Gansu Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Gansu Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 1,702,599,589        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Qinghai Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Qinghai Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 902,564,911        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Ningxia Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Ningxia Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 740,447,232        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Xinjiang Mobile (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

17 Principal subsidiaries (continued)

 

              Proportion of
ownership interest
     
    Place of   Particulars            
    incorporation   of issued and     Held by the     Held by a      

Name of company

  and operation   paid up capital     Company     subsidiary    

Principal activity

China Mobile Group Xinjiang Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 2,581,599,600        —          100  

Mobile telecommunications operator

Beijing P&T Consulting & Design Institute (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Group Design Institute Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 160,232,500        —          100  

Provision of telecommunications network planning design and consulting services

China Mobile Communication (BVI) Limited

  BVI     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.*

  PRC   RMB 1,641,848,326        —          100  

Network and business coordination center

China Mobile Holding Company Limited*

  PRC   US$ 30,000,000        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile (Shenzhen) Limited*

  PRC   US$ 7,633,000        —          100  

Provision of roaming clearance services

Aspire Holdings Limited

  Cayman
Islands
  HK$ 93,964,583        66.41     —       

Investment holding company

Aspire (BVI) Limited#

  BVI   US$ 1,000        —          100  

Investment holding company

Aspire Technologies (Shenzhen) Limited*#

  PRC   US$ 10,000,000        —          100  

Technology platform development and maintenance

Aspire Information Network(Shenzhen) Limited*#

  PRC   US$ 5,000,000        —          100  

Provision of mobile data solutions, system integration and development

Aspire Information Technologies(Beijing) Limited*#

  PRC   US$ 5,000,000        —          100  

Technology platform development and maintenance

Fujian FUNO Mobile Communication Technology Company Limited**

  PRC   US$ 3,800,000        —          51  

Network planning and optimizing construction testing and supervising, technology support, development and training of Nokia GSM900/1800 Mobile Communication System

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

17 Principal subsidiaries (continued)

 

              Proportion of
ownership interest
     
    Place of   Particulars            
    incorporation   of issued and     Held by the     Held by a      

Name of company

  and operation   paid up capital     Company     subsidiary    

Principal activity

Advanced Roaming & Clearing House Limited

  BVI   US$ 2        100     —       

Provision of roaming clearance services

Fit Best Limited

  BVI   US$ 1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited (“CMHK”)

  Hong Kong   HK$ 356,947,689        —          100  

Provision of mobile telecommunications and related services

China Mobile International Holdings Limited

  Hong Kong     1 share at HK$1        100     —       

Investment holding company

China Mobile International Limited

  Hong Kong     1 share at HK$1        —          100  

Provision of voice and roaming clearance services, internet services and value-added services

 

*       Companies registered as wholly-foreign owned enterprises in the PRC.

**     Company registered as a sino-foreign equity joint venture in the PRC.

#       Effective interest held by the Group is 66.41%.

 

18 Interest in associates

 

     As at
December 31, 2010
     As at
December 31, 2009
 
     RMB million      RMB million  

Share of net assets

     25,459         —     

Goodwill

     14,716         —     
                 
     40,175         —     
                 

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

18 Interest in associates (continued)

 

Details of the associates are as follows:

 

Name of associate

   Place of
incorporation
and operation
     Proportion of
ownership
interest held
by a subsidiary
   

Principal activity

Non-listed company

       

China Motion United Telecom Limited

     Hong Kong         30  

Provision of telecommunications services

Shenzhen China Motion Telecom United Limited

     PRC         30  

Provision of telecommunications services

Listed company

       

Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd(“SPD Bank”)

     PRC         20  

Provision of banking services

All the above investments in associates are owned by Guangdong Mobile, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary.

Owing to the lack of recent audited financial statements of China Motion United Telecom Limited and Shenzhen China Motion Telecom United Limited, the Group’s share of these two associates’ net assets is based on latest management accounts which showed net liabilities as at December 31, 2009 and 2010.

As at December 31, 2010, the interests in associates include the investment in SPD Bank, which is a listed company on The Shanghai Stock Exchange, the PRC. In 2010, the Company, through Guangdong Mobile, acquired 20% of the total issued share capital in SPD Bank for a total consideration and direct cost of RMB39,617,000,000. The acquisition was completed in October 2010.

The Group has recognized its share of SPD Bank’s comprehensive income from acquisition date to December 31, 2010.

Summary financial information on SPD Bank:

 

     Assets      Liabilities      Revenue     Profit after tax  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million     RMB million  

2010

          

100%

     2,191,411         2,068,131         50,020        19,179   

Group’s effective interest (20%)

     438,282         413,626         2,826     867

*       The amounts represent the Group’s share of revenue and profit after tax in SPD Bank from acquisition date to December 31, 2010.

           

As at December 31, 2010, the fair value of the investment in SPD Bank based on quoted market price was RMB35,556,000,000. The management has determined that there was no impairment of the investment since there is no objective evidence of significant or prolong decline in the market price as at the reporting period end.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

19 Interest in jointly controlled entity

 

     As at
December 31, 2010
     As at
December 31, 2009
 
     RMB million      RMB million  

Share of net assets

     8         6   
                 
     8         6   
                 

Details of the Group’s interest in the jointly controlled entity is as follows:

 

Name of jointly controlled entity

   Place of
incorporation
and operation
   Proportio of
ownership
interest held
by the Group
   

Principal activity

JIL B.V.

   The Netherlands      25  

Research and develop telecommunication technologies and application services

JIL B.V. was formed by the Company and two other shareholders in 2008, and commenced operation in 2009. During 2009, a new investor became the fourth shareholder and the proportion of ownership interests held by the Group and the Company decreased from 33.33% to 25%. By end of 2010, each of the four shareholders, including the Company, has funded US$5,000,000 (equivalent to RMB34,000,000) to JIL B.V. in accordance with the shareholders agreement.

JIL B.V. is considered a jointly controlled entity since the Company and the other shareholders have the right to appoint an equal number of directors to the board of directors and the Group or the Company and the other shareholders share joint control over the economic activity of the entity.

As at and for the year ended December 31, 2010, the Group’s share of the JIL B.V.’s current assets, non-current assets, current liabilities, net assets and loss for the year of JIL B.V. are RMB19,000,000 (2009: RMB8,000,000), RMB1,000,000 (2009: Nil), RMB12,000,000 (2009: RMB2,000,000), RMB8,000,000 (2009: RMB6,000,000) and RMB18,000,000 (2009: RMB8,000,000), respectively.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

20 Deferred tax assets and liabilities

The components of deferred tax assets/(liabilities) recognized in the consolidated balance sheet and the movements during the year for the Group are as follows:

Deferred tax assets and liabilities recognized and the movements during 2010

 

     As at
January 1,
2010
    Credited/
(charged) to
profit or loss
    Exchange
differences
     As at
December 31,
2010
 
     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million      RMB million  

Deferred tax assets arising from:

         

Provision for obsolete inventories

     6        6        —           12   

Write-off of certain network equipment and related assets

     1,515        (280     —           1,235   

Provision for certain operating expenses

     3,935        1,212        —           5,147   

Deferred revenue from customer point reward program

     1,520        594        —           2,114   

Impairment loss for doubtful accounts

     1,963        (751     —           1,212   
                                 
     8,939        781        —           9,720   
                                 

Deferred tax liabilities arising from:

         

Capitalized interest

     (7     3        —           (4

Depreciation allowance in excess of related depreciation

     (54     18        1         (35
                                 
     (61     21        1         (39
                                 

Total

     8,878        802        1         9,681   
                                 

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

20 Deferred tax assets and liabilities (continued)

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities recognized and the movements during 2009

 

     As at
January 1,
2009
    Credited/
(charged) to
profit or loss
    Exchange
differences
     As at
December 31,
2009
 
     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million      RMB million  

Deferred tax assets arising from:

         

Provision for obsolete inventories

     5        1        —           6   

Write-off of certain network equipment and related assets

     1,849        (334     —           1,515   

Provision for certain operating expenses

     2,989        946        —           3,935   

Deferred revenue from customer point reward program

     1,669        (149     —           1,520   

Impairment loss for doubtful accounts

     1,102        861        —           1,963   
                                 
     7,614        1,325        —           8,939   
                                 

Deferred tax liabilities arising from:

         

Capitalized interest

     (16     9        —           (7

Depreciation allowance in excess of related depreciation

     (64     10        —           (54
                                 
     (80     19        —           (61
                                 

Total

     7,534        1,344        —           8,878   
                                 

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

20 Deferred tax assets and liabilities (continued)

 

     As at
December 31, 2010
    As at
December  31, 2009
 
     RMB million     RMB million  

Deferred tax assets recognized in the consolidated balance sheet

     9,720        8,939   

Deferred tax liabilities recognized in the consolidated balance sheet

     (39     (61
                

Balance as at December 31

     9,681        8,878   
                

 

21 Pledged bank deposits

As at December 31, 2010, the Group has in aggregate HK$190,000,000 (equivalent to RMB162,000,000) of performance bonds issued by banks in favour of the Telecommunications Authority of Hong Kong in order to secure CMHK’s due performance of network coverage for the application of the next generation mobile services technology license (“BWA License”) and the Mobile TV License.

 

22 Other financial assets

 

     As at
December 31, 2010
     As at
December 31, 2009
 
     RMB million      RMB million  

Investment in unlisted equity securities in the PRC, at cost

     77         77   
                 

 

23 Inventories

Inventories primarily comprise handsets, SIM cards and handset accessories.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

24 Accounts receivable

 

(a) Aging analysis

Aging analysis of accounts receivable, net of impairment loss for doubtful accounts, is as follows:

 

     As at
December 31, 2010
     As at
December 31, 2009
 
     RMB million      RMB million  

Within 30 days

     5,295         4,275   

31 - 60 days

     1,317         1,012   

61 - 90 days

     639         673   

Over 90 days

     381         445   
                 
     7,632         6,405   
                 

Accounts receivable primarily comprise receivables from customers. Accounts receivable from customers are due for payment within one month from date of billing. Customers with balances that are overdue or exceed credit limits are required to settle all outstanding balances before any further phone calls can be made.

Accounts receivable are expected to be recovered within one year.

 

(b) Impairment of accounts receivable

Impairment loss in respect of accounts receivable are recorded using an allowance account unless the Group is satisfied that recovery of the amount is remote, in which case the impairment loss is written off against accounts receivable directly.

The following table summarizes the changes in impairment losses of doubtful accounts:

 

     2010     2009     2008  
     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

Balance as at January 1

     6,095        4,548        3,974   

Impairment loss for doubtful accounts

     4,005        4,514        4,382   

Accounts receivable written off

     (5,248     (2,967     (3,807

Exchange differences

     (1     —          (1
                        

Balance as at December 31

     4,851        6,095        4,548   
                        

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

24 Accounts receivable (continued)

 

(c) Accounts receivable that are not impaired

Accounts receivable that are neither individually nor collectively considered to be impaired are as follows:

 

     As at
December 31, 2010
     As at
December 31, 2009
 
     RMB million      RMB million  

Neither past due nor impaired

     6,869         5,784   

Less than 1 month past due

     763         621   
                 
     7,632         6,405   
                 

Receivables that were neither past due nor impaired relate to a wide range of customers for which there was no recent history of default.

Receivables that were past due but not impaired relate to a number of independent customers that have a good track record with the Group. Based on past experience, management believes that no impairment allowance is necessary in respect of these balances as there has not been a significant change in credit quality and the balances are still considered fully recoverable. The Group does not hold any collateral over these balances.

 

25 Other receivables, prepayments and other current assets

Other receivables primarily comprise interest receivable from banks, trust loan to other PRC entity, utilities deposits and rental deposits.

Other receivables, except utilities deposits and rental deposits, are expected to be recovered within one year.

Prepayments and other current assets include primarily rental prepayment.

 

26 Amounts due from/to ultimate holding company and amount due to immediate holding company

Amounts due from/to ultimate holding company are unsecured, non-interest bearing, repayable on demand and arose in the ordinary course of business.

Amount due to immediate holding company represented interest payable on the deferred consideration payable (see note 30(b)), which is expected to be settled within one year.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

27 Cash and cash equivalents

 

     As at
December 31, 2010
     As at
December 31,2009
 
     RMB million      RMB million  

Deposits with banks within three months of original maturity

     6,043         8,971   

Cash at banks and in hand

     81,500         69,923   
                 
     87,543         78,894   
                 

 

28 Accounts payable

Accounts payable primarily include payables for network expansion projects expenditure, maintenance and interconnection expenses.

The aging analysis of accounts payable as at December 31 is as follows:

 

     As at
December 31, 2010
     As at
December 31, 2009
 
     RMB million      RMB million  

Due within 1 month or on demand

     88,525         72,883   

Due after 1 month but within 3 months

     9,888         8,965   

Due after 3 months but within 6 months

     5,519         6,420   

Due after 6 months but within 9 months

     3,337         3,691   

Due after 9 months but within 12 months

     4,377         4,026   
                 
     111,646         95,985   
                 

All of the accounts payable are expected to be settled within one year or are repayable on demand.

 

29 Deferred revenue

Deferred revenue primarily includes prepaid service fees received from customers, unredeemed point rewards, and deferred tax credit on purchase of domestic telecommunications equipment.

 

     2010     2009  
     RMB million     RMB million  

Balance as at January 1

     35,890        33,514   

-Current portion

     35,573        32,930   

-Non-current portion

     317        584   

Additions during the year

     241,927        211,040   

Recognized in the comprehensive income statement

     (234,076     (208,664

Exchange differences

     (4     —     
                

Balance as at December 31

     43,737        35,890   

Less: Current portion

     (43,489     (35,573
                

Non-current portion

     248        317   
                

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

30 Interest-bearing borrowings

 

            As at December 31, 2010      As at December 31, 2009  
            Current
liabilities
     Non-current
liabilities
     Total      Current
liabilities
     Non-current
liabilities
     Total  
     Note      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Bonds

     30(a)         4,981         4,982         9,963         —           9,918         9,918   

Deferred consideration payable

     30(b)         —           23,633         23,633         —           23,633         23,633   
                                                        
        4,981         28,615         33,596         —           33,551         33,551   
                                                        

All of the above interest-bearing borrowings are unsecured and the non-current portion is not expected to be settled within one year.

 

  (a) Bonds

 

  (i) On June 18, 2001, Guangdong Mobile issued guaranteed bonds with a principal amount of RMB5,000,000,000 (the “Ten-year Bonds”) at an issue price equal to the face value of the bonds.

The Ten-year Bonds bear interest at a floating rate, adjusted annually from the first day of each interest payable year and payable annually. The bonds, redeemable at 100% of the principal amount, mature on June 18, 2011, with interest accruing up to June 17, 2011.

 

  (ii) On October 28, 2002, Guangdong Mobile issued fifteen-year guaranteed bonds (the “Fifteen-year Bonds”), with a principal amount of RMB5,000,000,000, at an issue price equal to the face value of the bonds.

The Fifteen-year Bonds bear interest at the rate of 4.5% per annum and payable annually. The bonds are redeemable at 100% of the principal amount and mature on October 28, 2017 with interest accruing up to October 27, 2017.

The Company has issued a joint and irrevocable guarantee (the “Guarantee”) for the performance of the above bonds. China Mobile Communications Corporation (“CMCC”), the ultimate holding company, has also issued a further guarantee in relation to the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Guarantee.

 

  (b) Deferred consideration payable

This represents the balances of the deferred consideration of RMB9,976,000,000 and RMB13,657,000,000 payable to immediate holding company in respect of the acquisitions of subsidiaries in 2002 and 2004 respectively, and are due on July 1, 2017 and July 1, 2019.

The deferred consideration payable is unsecured and bears interest at the rate of the two-year US dollar LIBOR swap rate per annum (for the year ended December 31, 2010: 1.123% to 1.238% per annum; for the year ended December 31, 2009: 3.238% to 3.331% per annum). The balances are subordinated to other senior debts owed by the Company from time to time. The Company may make early payment of all or part of the balances at any time before the repayment date without penalty.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

31 Accrued expenses and other payables

 

     As at
December 31, 2010
     As at
December 31, 2009
 
     RMB million      RMB million  

Receipts-in-advance

     49,571         41,281   

Other payables

     13,489         11,900   

Accrued salaries, wages and benefits

     4,797         4,391   

Accrued expense

     17,859         11,763   
                 
     85,716         69,335   
                 

 

32 Obligations under finance leases

The Group’s obligations under finance leases as at December 31 are as follows:

 

     As at December 31, 2010      As at December 31, 2009  
     Present
value of the
minimum
lease
payments
     Interest
expense
relating
to future
periods
     Total
minimum
lease
payments
     Present
value of the
minimum
lease
payments
     Interest
expense
relating
to future
periods
     Total
minimum
lease
payments
 
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Within 1 year

     68         3         71         68         3         71   
                                                     

 

33 Employee retirement benefits

 

(a) As stipulated by the regulations of Mainland China, the subsidiaries in Mainland China participate in basic defined contribution pension plans organized by their respective municipal governments under which they are governed.

Employees in Mainland China are entitled to retirement benefits equal to a fixed proportion of their salary at their normal retirement age. The Group has no other material obligation for payment of basic retirement benefits beyond the annual contributions, which are calculated at a rate based on the salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of its employees.

Other than the above, certain subsidiaries also participate in supplementary defined contribution retirement plans managed by independent insurance companies whereby the subsidiaries are required to make contributions to the retirement plans at fixed rates of the employees’ salary costs or in accordance with the terms of the plans.

 

(b) The Group also operates a Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme (“the MPF scheme”) under the Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance for employees employed under the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Employment Ordinance. The MPF scheme is a defined contribution retirement scheme administered by independent trustees. Under the MPF scheme, the employer and its employees are each required to make contributions to the scheme at 5% of the employees’ relevant income, subject to a cap of monthly relevant income of HK$20,000. Contributions to the scheme vest immediately.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

34 Equity settled share-based transactions

Pursuant to a resolution passed at the Annual General Meeting held on June 24, 2002, the current share option scheme (the “Current Scheme”) was adopted.

Under the Current Scheme, the directors of the Company may, at their discretion, invite employees, including executive directors and non-executive directors of the Company, any of its holding companies and any of their respective subsidiaries and any entity in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds any equity interest, to take up options to subscribe for shares of the Company.

The maximum aggregate number of shares which can be subscribed for pursuant to options that are or may be granted under the above schemes equals to 10% of the total issued share capital of the Company as at the date of adoption of the Current Scheme. Options lapsed or cancelled in accordance with the terms of the Current Scheme will not be counted for the purpose of calculating this 10% limit. The consideration payable for the grant of option under the Current Scheme is HK$1.00.

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “HKEx”) requires that the exercise price of options to be at least the higher of the nominal value of a share, the closing price of the shares on the HKEx on the date on which the option was granted and the average closing price of the shares on the HKEx for the five trading days immediately preceding the date on which the option was granted.

For options granted under the Current Scheme, the exercise price of options shall be determined by the directors of the Company at their discretion provided that such price may not be set below a minimum price which is the highest of:

 

  (i) the nominal value of a share;

 

  (ii) the closing price of the shares on the HKEx on the date on which the option was granted; and

 

  (iii) the average closing price of the shares on the HKEx for the five trading days immediately preceding the date on which the option was granted.

Under the Current Scheme, the term of the option is determined by the directors at their discretion, provided that all options shall be exercised within 10 years after the date on which the option is granted.

 

(a) The terms and conditions of the grants that existed during the years are as follows, whereby all options are settled by physical delivery of shares:

 

     Number of instruments     

Vesting conditions

   Contractual
life of options
 
     2010      2009        

Options granted to directors

           

- on July 3, 2002

     7,000         7,000       50% two years from the date of grant,      10 years   
         50% five years from the date of grant   

- on October 28, 2004

     744,175         744,175       40% one year from the date of grant,      10 years   
         30% two years from the date of grant,   
         30% three years from the date of grant   

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

34 Equity settled share-based transactions (continued)

 

(a) The terms and conditions of the grants that existed during the years are as follows, whereby all options are settled by physical delivery of shares: (continued)

 

    Number of instruments    

Vesting conditions

  Contractual
life of options
 
    2010     2009      

Options granted to directors (continued)

       

- on December 21, 2004

    475,000        475,000      40% one year from the date of grant,     10 years   
      30% two years from the date of grant,  
      30% three years from the date of grant  

- on November 8, 2005

    5,685,500        5,685,500      40% one year from the date of grant,     10 years   
      30% two years from the date of grant  
      30% three years from the date of grant  

Options granted to other employees

       

- on July 3, 2002

    29,997,239        33,451,909      50% two years from the date of grant,     10 years   
      50% five years from the date of grant  

- on October 28, 2004

    118,704,584        119,656,204      40% one year from the date of grant,     10 years   
      30% two years from the date of grant,  
      30% three years from the date of grant  

- on November 8, 2005

    267,391,975        267,555,280      40% one year from the date of grant,     10 years   
      30% two years from the date of grant,  
      30% three years from the date of grant  
                   

Total share options

    423,005,473        427,575,068       
                   

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

34 Equity settled share-based transactions (continued)

 

(b) The number and weighted average exercise prices of share options are as follows:

 

     2010     2009  
     Weighted
average
exercise
price
     Number of
shares
involved in

the options
    Weighted
average
exercise
price
     Number of
shares
involved in

the options
 
     HK$            HK$         

As at January 1

     30.51         427,575,068        30.40         434,049,488   

Exercised

     23.26         (4,569,595     23.15         (6,474,420

As at December 31

     30.59         423,005,473        30.51         427,575,068   
                                  

Option vested as at December 31

     30.59         423,005,473        30.51         427,575,068   
                                  

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for shares options exercised during the year was HK$79.63 (2009: HK$80.08).

The options outstanding as at December 31, 2010 had exercise prices ranging from HK$22.75 to HK$34.87 (2009: HK$22.75 to HK$34.87) and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 4.3 years (2009: 5.3 years).

The fair value of services received in return for share options granted are measured by reference to the fair value of share options granted. The estimate of the fair value of the share options granted is measured based on a binomial lattice model. The contractual life of the option is used as an input into this model. Expectations of early exercise are incorporated into the binomial lattice model. No share options were granted during 2009 and 2010.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

35 Capital, reserves and dividends

 

(a) Dividends

 

(i) Dividends attributable to the year:

 

     2010      2009      2008  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Ordinary interim dividend declared and paid of HK$1.417 (equivalent to approximately RMB1.236) ( 2009: HK$1.346 (equivalent to approximately RMB1.187); 2008: HK$1.339 (equivalent to approximately RMB1.177)) per share

     24,550         23,791         23,532   

Ordinary final dividend proposed after the balance sheet date of HK$1.597 (equivalent to approximately RMB1.359) (2009: HK$1.458 (equivalent to approximately RMB1.284); 2008: HK$1.404 (equivalent to approximately RMB1.238))per share

     27,268         25,753         24,832   
                          
     51,818         49,544         48,364   
                          

The proposed ordinary final dividend which is declared in Hong Kong dollar is translated into RMB at the rate HK$1 = RMB0.85093, being the rate announced by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange in the PRC on December 31, 2010. As the ordinary final dividend is declared after the balance sheet date, such dividend is not recognized as liability as at December 31, 2010.

 

(ii) Dividends attributable to the previous financial year, approved and paid during the year:

 

     2010      2009      2008  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Ordinary final dividend in respect of the previous financial year, approved and paid during the year, of HK$1.458 (equivalent to approximately RMB1.284) (2009: HK$1.404 (equivalent to approximately RMB1.238); 2008: HK$1.160 (equivalent to approximately RMB1.086)) per share

     25,651         24,823         20,742   

No special final dividend in respect of the previous financial year, approved and paid during the year (2009: Nil; 2008: HK$0.016 (equivalent to approximately RMB0.015)) per share

     —           —           286   
                          
     25,651         24,823         21,028   
                          

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

35 Capital, reserves and dividends (Continued)

 

(b) Share capital

 

(i) Authorized and issued share capital

 

     2010      2009  
     HK$ million      HK$ million  

Authorized:

     

30,000,000,000 ordinary shares of HK$0.10 each

     3,000         3,000   
                 

Issued and fully paid:

 

     2010      2009  
     Number
of shares
     Equivalent      Number
of shares
     Equivalent  
           

HK$

million

    

RMB

million

           

HK$

million

    

RMB

million

 

As at January 1

     20,060,853,651         2,006         2,139         20,054,379,231         2,005         2,138   

Shares issued under share option scheme

(note 35(b)(ii))

     4,569,595         —           —           6,474,420         1         1   
                                                     

As at December 31

     20,065,423,246         2,006         2,139         20,060,853,651         2,006         2,139   
                                                     

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share at meetings of the Company. All ordinary shares rank equally with regard to the Company’s residual assets.

 

(ii) Shares issued under share option scheme

During 2010, options were exercised to subscribe for 4,569,595 ordinary shares in the Company at a consideration of HK$106,457,000 (equivalent to RMB93,398,000) of which HK$457,000 (equivalent to RMB398,000) was credited to share capital and the balance of HK$106,000,000 (equivalent to RMB93,000,000) was credited to the share premium account. HK$8,000,000 (equivalent to RMB8,000,000) has been transferred from the capital reserve to the share premium account in accordance with policy set out in note 1(u)(ii).

 

(c) Nature and purpose of reserves

 

(i) Capital reserve

The capital reserve comprises the following:

 

   

The fair value of unexercised share options granted to employees of the Group recognized in accordance with the accounting policy adopted for share-based payments in note 1(u)(ii); and

 

   

RMB295,665,000,000 debit balance brought forward as a result of the elimination of goodwill arising on the acquisition of subsidiaries before January 1, 2001 against the capital reserve in previous years.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

35 Capital, reserves and dividends (continued)

 

(c) Nature and purpose of reserves (continued)

 

(ii) PRC statutory reserves

PRC statutory reserves include general reserve, enterprise expansion funds and statutory surplus reserve.

In accordance with Rules for the Implementation of the Law of the PRC on Foreign-Capital Enterprises, foreign investment enterprises in Mainland China are required to transfer at least 10% of their profit after taxation, as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the PRC (“PRC GAAP”) to the general reserve until the balance of the general reserve is equal to 50% of their registered capital. Moreover, they are required to transfer a certain percentage of their profit after taxation, as determined under PRC GAAP, to the enterprise expansion fund. During the year, appropriations were made by each of the above subsidiaries to the general reserve and the enterprise expansion fund each at 10% of their profit after taxation determined under PRC GAAP.

The general reserve can be used to reduce previous years’ losses while the enterprise expansion fund can be used to increase the capital of the subsidiaries, to acquire property, plant and equipment and to increase current assets.

Statutory surplus reserve can be used to reduce previous years’ losses, if any, and may be converted into paid-up capital, provided that the balance after such conversion is not less than 25% of the registered capital of the subsidiaries.

As at December 31, 2010, the balances of the general reserve, enterprise expansion fund, statutory surplus reserve, and production safety fund were RMB 74,456,000,000 (2009: RMB62,332,000,000), RMB79,687,000,000 (2009: RMB67,563,000,000), RMB23,000,000 (2009: RMB23,000,000), and RMB12,000,000 (2009: Nil), respectively.

 

(iii) Exchange reserve

The exchange reserve comprises all foreign exchange differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of overseas entities. The reserve is dealt with in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1(w).

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

35 Capital, reserves and dividends (continued)

 

(d) Capital management

The Group’s primary objectives when managing capital are to maintain a reasonable capital structure and to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders. The Group actively and regularly reviews and manages its capital structure to maintain a balance between the higher shareholder returns that might be possible with higher levels of borrowings and the advantages and security afforded by a sound capital position, and makes adjustments to the capital structure in light of changes in economic conditions. The Group monitors capital on the basis of total debt-to-book capitalization ratio. This ratio is calculated as total debts (including bills payable, obligations under finance leases, current and non-current interest-bearing borrowings as shown in the consolidated balance sheet) divided by book capitalization (refer to the total equity attributable to equity shareholders of the Company as shown in the consolidated balance sheet and total debts).

As at December 31, 2010, the Group’s total debt-to-book capitalization ratio was 5.6% (2009: 6.3%).

Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

 

36 Related party transactions

 

(a) Transactions with CMCC Group

The following is a summary of principal related party transactions entered into by the Group with CMCC and its subsidiaries, excluding the Group, (the “CMCC Group”), for the year ended December 31, 2008, December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010.

 

           2010      2009      2008  
     Note     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Property leasing and management services charges

     (i     951         1,207         1,182   

Telecommunications services charges

     (ii     2,037         3,913         3,798   

Interest paid/payable

     (iii     431         774         1,026   

Interconnection revenue

     (iv     319         379         183   

Interconnection charges

     (iv     431         435         216   

Leased line charges

     (iv     94         59         11   

Property leasing fee

     (v     —           —           191   

Facilities support fees

     (v     —           —           160   

Operation supports and management fee

     (v     —           —           269   

Network capacity leasing charge paid/payable

     (v     578         222         —     

Sales channel utilizing fee received/receivable

     (vi     37         10         —     

Sales channel utilizing charge paid/payable

     (vi     536         495         —     
                            

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

36 Related party transactions (continued)

 

(a) Transactions with CMCC Group (continued)

 

Notes:

 

  (i) Property leasing and management services charges represent the rental and property management fees paid/payable to CMCC Group in respect of business premises and offices, retail outlets and warehouses.

 

  (ii) Telecommunications services charges represent the amounts paid/payable to CMCC Group for the telecommunications project planning, design and construction services, telecommunications line and pipeline construction services, and telecommunications line maintenance services.

 

  (iii) Interest paid/payable represents the interest paid/payable to China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited, the Company’s immediate holding company, in respect of the balances of deferred consideration payable for acquisition of subsidiaries.

 

  (iv) The amounts represent settlement received/receivable from or paid/payable to China TieTong Telecommunications Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CMCC, in respect of interconnection settlement and lease line charges after acquisition date.

 

  (v) The amounts in 2008 represent settlement fees received/receivable by the Group for providing operating service to CMCC in respect of TD-SCDMA trial network. The amounts in 2009 and 2010 represent the leasing fees paid/payable to CMCC Group in respect of the leasing of TD-SCDMA network capacity. On December 29, 2008, the Company entered into a network capacity leasing agreement (the “Network Capacity Leasing Agreement”) with CMCC for the provision of TD-SCDMA related services. The lease was effective from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009 and is automatically renewed for successive one-year periods unless otherwise notified by one party to the other party. The Group is permitted to terminate the lease by giving 60 days advance written notice to CMCC. No penalty will be imposed in the event of a lease termination. Pursuant to the Network Capacity Leasing Agreement, the Group leases TD-SCDMA network capacity from CMCC and pays leasing fees to CMCC. The leasing fees are determined on a basis that reflects the actual usage of CMCC’s TD-SCDMA network capacity and compensates CMCC for the costs of such network capacity. At the end of the lease term, there is no purchase option granted to the Group to purchase the network assets. The Group also does not bear any gains or losses in the fluctuation in the fair value of the leased network asset at the end of the lease term. The Group accounts for the TD-SCDMA network capacity lease as an operating lease.

 

  (vi) The amounts represent the sales channel utilizing fee received/receivable from or paid/payable to CMCC Group for utilizing the existing sales channels and resources, such as sales outlets, internet sales network, etc..

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

36 Related party transactions (continued)

 

(b) Transactions with associate

The Group also has entered into transactions with its associate, over which the Group can exercise significant influence. The major transactions entered into by the Group and the associate include the bank deposits placed in SPD Bank, the interest income and the mobile telecommunications service, which were carried out in the normal course of business.

 

           2010      2009      2008  
     Note     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Cash and cash equivalents

     (i     1,999         —           —     

Interest income

     (ii     9         —           —     

Mobile telecommunications service fee

     (iii     29         —           —     

 

  (i) The amount represents the current deposits placed as at December 31, 2010 with SPD Bank, the Group’s associate.

 

  (ii) Interest income represents interest earned from deposits placed with SPD Bank after acquisition date. The applicable interest rate is determined in accordance with the prevailing bank interest rates published by the People’s Bank of China.

 

  (iii) The amount represents the fees from mobile telecommunications service, which the Group provide to SPD Bank.

 

(c) Key management personnel remuneration

Remuneration for key management personnel is disclosed in note 9.

 

37 Transactions with other state-controlled entities in the PRC

Apart from transactions with the CMCC Group (see note 36(a)), the Group, a state-controlled enterprise, conducts certain business activities with enterprises directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the PRC government and governmental authorities and agencies (together referred to as “state-controlled entities”) in the ordinary course of business. These transactions, which primarily include providing telecommunications services, rendering and receiving services, sales and purchase of goods and deposits with financial institutions, are carried out at terms similar to those that would be entered into with non-state-controlled entities and have been reflected in the financial statements. These transactions are conducted and settled in accordance with rules and regulations stipulated by related authorities of the PRC government.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

37 Transactions with other state-controlled entities in the PRC (continued)

 

Set out below are the principal transactions with state-controlled telecommunications operators and state-controlled financial institutions in the PRC:

 

(a) Principal transactions with state-controlled telecommunications operators in the PRC:

 

     2010      2009      2008  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Interconnection revenue

     17,028         14,655         13,679   

Interconnection charges

     19,076         18,908         19,981   

Leased line charges

     2,251         2,164         2,202   
                          

 

(b) Principal balances with state-controlled telecommunications operators in the PRC:

 

     As at
December 31,
2010
     As at
December 31,
2009
 
     RMB million      RMB million  

Accounts receivable and other receivables

     943         580   

Accounts payable and other payables

     709         964   
                 

 

(c) Principal transactions with state-controlled financial institutions in the PRC:

 

     2010      2009      2008  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Interest income

     5,625         5,896         5,791   
                          

 

(d) Principal balances with state-controlled financial institutions in the PRC:

 

     As at
December31,
2010
     As at
December 31,
2009
 
     RMB million      RMB million  

Deposits with banks

     203,148         183,602   

Cash and cash equivalents

     86,689         72,085   
                 

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

38 Financial risk management and fair values

Exposure to credit, liquidity, interest rate and foreign currency risks arises in the normal course of the Group’s business. The Group’s exposure to these risks and the financial risk management policies and practices used by the Group to manage these risks are described below.

 

(a) Credit risk and concentration risk

The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to the financial assets in the balance sheet, which mainly include deposit with banks, accounts receivable and other receivables. The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount of the financial assets.

Substantially all the Group’s cash and cash equivalents are deposited in financial institutions in Hong Kong and Mainland China. The credit risk on liquid funds is limited as the majority of counter parties are financial institutions with high credit ratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies and state-controlled financial institutions with good reputations.

The accounts receivable of the Group are primarily comprised of receivables due from customers. Accounts receivable from customers are spread among an extensive number of customers and the majority of the receivables from customers are due for payment within one month from the date of billing. Other receivables primarily comprise interest receivable from banks, utilities deposits and rental deposits. Management has a credit policy in place and the exposures to these credit risks are monitored on an ongoing basis, taking into account the counter parties’ financial position, the Group’s past experience and other factors. As such, management considers the aggregate risks arising from the possibility of credit losses is limited and to be acceptable.

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited due to the Group’s customer base being large and unrelated. As such, management does not expect any significant losses of accounts receivable that have not been provided for by way of allowances as shown in note 24(b).

 

(b) Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk refers to that funds will not be available to meet liabilities as they fall due, and results from timing and amount mismatches of cash inflow and outflow, The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining sufficient cash balances to meet its funding needs, including working capital, principal and interest payments on debts, dividend payments and capital expenditures.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

38 Financial risk management and fair values (continued)

 

(b) Liquidity risk (continued)

 

The following table sets out the remaining contractual maturities at the balance sheet date of the Group’s financial liabilities, which are based on the undiscounted cash flows (including interest payments computed using contractual rates or, if floating, based on prevailing rates current at the balance sheet) and the earliest date the Group would be required to repay:

 

     As at December 31, 2010  
     Carrying
amount
     Total
contractual
undiscounted
cash flow
     Within 1 year
or on demand
     More than 1
year but less

than 3 years
     More than  3
years but less
than 5 years
     More than
5 years
 
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Accounts payable

     111,646         111,646         111,646         —           —           —     

Bills payable

     502         502         502         —           —           —     

Accrued expenses and other payables

     85,716         85,716         85,716            

Amount due to ultimate holding company

     15         15         15         —           —           —     

Amount due to immediate holding company

     35         35         35         —           —           —     

Interest- bearing borrowings

                 

-Deferred consideration payable

     23,633         25,233         281         428         383         24,141   

-Bonds

     9,963         11,627         5,317         450         450         5,410   

Obligations under finance leases

     68         71         71         —           —           —     
                                                     
     231,578         234,845         203,583         878         833         29,551   
                                                     
     As at December 31, 2009  
     Carrying
amount
     Total
contractual
undiscounted
cash flow
     Within 1 year
or on demand
     More than 1
year but less
than 3 years
     More than 3
years but less
than 5 years
     More than
5 years
 
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

Accounts payable

     95,985         95,985         95,985         —           —           —     

Bills payable

     642         642         642         —           —           —     

Accrued expenses and other payables

     69,335         69,335         69,335         —           —           —     

Amount due to ultimate holding company

     4         4         4         —           —           —     

Amount due to immediate Holding company

     119         119         119         —           —           —     

Interest- bearing borrowings

                 

-Deferred consideration payable

     23,633         26,113         514         514         514         24,571   

-Bonds

     9,918         12,052         425         5,542         450         5,635   

Obligations under finance leases

     68         71         71         —           —           —     
                                                     
     199,704         204,321         167,095         6,056         964         30,206   
                                                     

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

38 Financial risk management and fair values (continued)

 

(c) Interest rate risk

The Group has interest rate risk as certain existing interest-bearing borrowings are at variable rates and therefore expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk. These borrowings mainly include bonds issued in 2001 and deferred consideration for the acquisition of subsidiaries in 2002 and 2004. The interest rates and terms of repayment of the interest-bearing borrowings of the Group are disclosed in note 30.

The following table set out the interest rate profile of the Group’s floating interest bearing borrowings at the balance sheet date:

 

     2010      2009  
     Effective
interest
rate
    RMB
million
     Effective
interest
rate
    RMB
million
 

2001 Bonds

     4.00     5,000         4.87     5,000   

Deferred consideration for acquisition of subsidiaries in 2002

     2.22     9,976         3.33     9,976   

Deferred consideration for acquisition of subsidiaries in 2004

     2.23     13,657         3.24     13,657   

As at December 31, 2010, if the base interest rate for the People’s Bank of China increases/decreases by 100 basis points, the effective interest rate for bonds would increase/decrease by 100 basis points, and the profit for the year and total equity of the Group would decrease/increase by RMB37,500,000 (2009: RMB37,500,000).

As at December 31, 2010, if the two-year US dollar LIBOR swap rate interest rate per annum increases/decreases by 100 basis points, the effective interest rate for deferred consideration would increase/decrease by 100 basis points, and the profit for the year and total equity of the Group would decrease/increase by RMB236,000,000 (2009: RMB236,000,000).

The sensitivity analysis above indicates the instantaneous change in the Group’s profit after tax (and retained profits) and other components of consolidated equity that would arise assuming that the change in interest rates had occurred at the balance sheet date and had been applied to re-measure those financial instruments held by the Group which expose the Group to interest rate risk at the balance sheet date. The assumption of increase or decrease of interest rate of the People’s Bank of China and two-year US dollar LIBOR swap rate represents management’s estimation of a reasonably possible change in interest rates over the period until the next interest rate re-pricing date.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

38 Financial risk management and fair values (continued)

 

(c) Interest rate risk (continued)

 

As at December 31, 2010, total cash and bank balances of the Group amounted to RMB292,346,000,000 (2009: RMB264,507,000,000). The interest income for 2010 was RMB5,658,000,000(2009: RMB5,940,000,000) and the average interest rate was 2.03% (2009: 2.46%). Assuming the total cash and bank balances are stable in the coming year and interest rate increases/decreases by 100 basis points, the profit for the year and total equity would approximately increase/decrease by RMB2,202,000,000 (2009: RMB2,003,000,000).

On the whole, interest rate risk of the Group is expected to be low due to the high balance of cash and cash equivalent and low level of floating rate debts. The Group consistently monitors the current and potential fluctuation of interest rates to monitor the interest risk on a reasonable level.

During the year, the Group had not entered into any interest rate swap contracts.

 

(d) Foreign currency risk

The Group has foreign currency risk as certain cash and deposits with banks are denominated in foreign currencies, principally US dollars and Hong Kong dollars. As the amount of the Group’s foreign currency represented 1.3% (2009: 3.1%) of the total cash and deposits with banks and major business operations of the Group were carried out in RMB, the Group does not expect the appreciation or depreciation of the RMB against foreign currency will materially affect the Group’s financial position and result of operations.

During the year, the Group had not entered into any forward exchange contracts.

 

(e) Fair values

All financial instruments are carried at amounts not materially different from their fair values as at December 31 except as follows:

 

     As at December 31, 2010      As at December 31, 2009  
     Carrying
Amount
     Fair value      Carrying
amount
     Fair value  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

The Group

           

Interest-bearing borrowings - bonds

     9,963         10,038         9,918         10,077   

The fair value of bonds is based on quoted market prices at the balance sheet date without any deduction for transaction costs.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

39 Commitments

 

(a) Capital commitments

Capital commitments outstanding as at December 31 not provided for in the financial statements were as follows:

 

     2010      2009  
     RMB million      RMB million  

Commitments in respect of land and buildings

     

- authorized and contracted for

     4,469         5,160   

- authorized but not contracted for

     14,211         20,494   
                 
     18,680         25,654   
                 

Commitments in respect of telecommunications equipment

     

- authorized and contracted for

     17,669         15,663   

- authorized but not contracted for

     79,819         61,919   
                 
     97,488         77,582   
                 

Total commitments

     

- authorized and contracted for

     22,138         20,823   

- authorized but not contracted for

     94,030         82,413   
                 
     116,168         103,236   
                 

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

39 Commitments (continued)

 

(b) Operating lease commitments

The total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as at December 31 are as follows:

 

     Land and
buildings
     Leased lines      Others      Total  
     RMB million      RMB million      RMB million      RMB million  

As at December 31, 2010

           

Within one year

     5,100         1,121         730         6,951   

After one year but within five years

     10,250         1,335         687         12,272   

After five years

     3,652         360         150         4,162   
                                   
     19,002         2,816         1,567         23,385   
                                   

As at December 31, 2009

           

Within one year

     4,459         1,069         554         6,082   

After one year but within five years

     8,809         1,429         541         10,779   

After five years

     3,161         308         141         3,610   
                                   
     16,429         2,806         1,236         20,471   
                                   

The Group leases certain land and buildings, leased lines, motor vehicles, and other equipment under operating leases. None of the leases include contingent rentals.

 

40 Non-adjusting post balance sheet events

After the balance sheet date the directors proposed an ordinary final dividend. Further details are disclosed in note 35(a)(i).

 

41 Comparative figures

Certain comparative figures have been adjusted to conform to current year’s presentation.

 

42 Ultimate holding company

The directors consider the ultimate holding company as at December 31, 2010 to be China Mobile Communications Corporation, a company incorporated in the PRC.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

43 Accounting estimates and judgements

Key sources of estimation uncertainty

Notes 15, 16 and 38 contain information about the assumptions and their risk factors relating to goodwill impairment, impairment of other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives and financial instruments. Other key sources of estimation uncertainty are as follows:

Impairment loss for doubtful accounts

The Group assesses impairment loss for doubtful accounts based upon evaluation of the recoverability of the accounts receivable and other receivables at each balance sheet date. The estimates are based on the aging of the accounts receivable and other receivables balances and the historical write-off experience, net of recoveries. If the financial condition of the customers were to deteriorate, additional impairment may be required.

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost of items of property, plant and equipment, less their estimated residual value, if any, using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. The Group reviews the estimated useful lives and residual values of the assets annually in order to determine the amount of depreciation expense to be recorded during any reporting period. The useful lives and residual values are based on the Group’s historical experience with similar assets and take into account anticipated technological changes. The depreciation expense for future periods is adjusted if there are significant changes from previous estimates.

Amortization of other intangible assets

Amortization of other intangible assets is calculated to write off the cost of items of other intangible assets using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives unless such lives are indefinite. The Group reviews the estimated useful lives of other intangible assets annually in order to determine the amount of amortization expense to be recorded during any reporting period. The useful lives are based on the estimate period over which future economic benefits will be received by the Group and take into account any unexpected adverse changes in circumstances or events. The amortization expense for future periods is adjusted if there are significant changes from previous estimates.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

43 Accounting estimates and judgements (continued)

Key sources of estimation uncertainty (continued)

 

Impairment of property, plant and equipment

The Group’s property, plant and equipment comprise a significant portion of the Group’s total assets. Changes in technology or industry conditions may cause the estimated period of use or the value of these assets to change. Long-lived assets including property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances have indicated that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount is estimated.

The recoverable amount of an asset is the greater of its net selling price and value-in-use. In assessing value-in-use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset, which requires significant judgement relating to level of revenue and amount of operating costs. The Group uses all readily available information in determining an amount that is a reasonable approximation of the recoverable amount, including estimates based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and projections of revenue and operating costs. Changes in these estimates could have a significant impact on the carrying value of the assets and could result in additional impairment charge or reversal of impairment in future periods.

 

44 Possible impact of amendments, new standards and interpretations issued but not yet effective for the year ended December 31, 2010

Up to the date of issue of these financial statements, the IASB have issued a number of amendments, new standards and interpretations which are not yet effective for the year ended December 31, 2010 and which have not been adopted in these financial statements.

Of these developments, the following relate to matters that may be relevant to the Group’s operations and financial statements:

 

     Effective for
accounting periods
beginning on or after

Revised IAS24, Related Party Disclosures (revised 2009)

   January 1, 2011

Amendments to IFRS 7, Financial Instruments Disclosures - Transfers of financial assets

   July 1, 2011

Amendments to IAS12 Income Taxes - Deferred tax: Recovery of Underlying Assets

   January 1, 2012

IFRS 9, Financial Instruments

   January 1, 2013

Improvements to IFRSs (2010)

   July 1, 2010 or January 1, 2011

The Group is in the process of making an assessment of what the impact of these amendments, new standards and new interpretations is expected to be in the period of initial application. So far it has concluded that while the adoption of them may result in new or amended disclosures, it is unlikely to have a significant impact on the Group’s results of operations and financial position.

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

45 Condensed financial information of parent company

 

(a) Condensed statement of comprehensive income

 

            2010     2009     2008  
     Note      RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

Dividend income

        50,613        61,561        50,201   

Operating expenses

        89        91        109   

Interest income

        15        2        77   

Finance costs

        (476     (772     (1,054
                           

Profit before taxation

        50,063        60,700        49,115   

Taxation

        —          —          —     
                           

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

        50,063        60,700        49,115   
                           

Other comprehensive income for the year

         

Exchange differences on translation of financial statements of overseas entities

        (53     45        (309
                           

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

        50,010        60,745        48,806   
                           

 

(b) Condensed balance sheet

 

     As at
December 31, 2010
     As at
December 31, 2009
 
     RMB million      RMB million  

Non-current assets

     476,819         476,800   

Current assets

     49,340         48,289   

Current liabilities

     7,493         1,388   

Non-current liabilities

     28,615         33,551   

NET ASSETS

     490,051         490,150   
                 

TOTAL EQUITY

     490,051         490,150   
                 

 

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China Mobile Limited

Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010

 

 

45 Condensed financial information of parent company (Continued)

 

(c) Condensed cashflow statement

 

     2010     2009     2008  
     RMB million     RMB million     RMB million  

Net cash used in operating activities

     (92     (93     (113
                        

Net cash generated from investing activities

     7,894        17,757        5,015   
                        

Net cash used in financing activities

     (12,060     (11,537     (10,997
                        

Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (4,258     6,127        (6,095

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     6,662        489        6,893   

Effect of changes in foreign exchange rate

     (145     46        (309
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

     2,259        6,662        489   
                        

 

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Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description of Exhibit

1.1    Memorandum and Articles of Association (as amended)(1).
2.1    We agree to provide the SEC, upon request, copies of instruments defining the rights of holders of our long-term debt.
2.2    Guarantee from China Mobile Communications Corporation for the RMB5,000 million guaranteed bonds due 2011 issued by Guangdong Mobile.(2)
2.3    Letter of Guarantee from China Mobile Communications Corporation for the RMB3,000 million guaranteed bonds due 2007 and RMB5,000 million guaranteed bonds due 2017, both issued by Guangdong Mobile in 2002 (with English translation).(3)
4.1    Agreement regarding Settlement of Interconnection and Roaming, Transmission Line Leasing, Usage of Spectrum Frequency and Numbering Resources, dated July 1, 2004, between China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).(4)
4.2    Tax Indemnity, dated July 1, 2004, among China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited, China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation.(4)
4.3    Conditional Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated April 28, 2004 between China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited, China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation.(5)
4.4    Asset Injection Agreement, dated April 9, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation, Neimenggu Mobile and Neimenggu Communication Service Company (with English translation and schedule).(5)
4.5    Asset Injection Agreement, dated April 9, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation, China Mobile Group Design Institute Co., Ltd. And Beijing P&T Consulting & Design Institute (with English translation).(5)
4.6    Asset Injection Agreement, dated April 9, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation and China Mobile Communication Company Limited (with English translation).(5)
4.7    Agreement on the Confirmation of Rights and Obligations, dated April 9, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation, Neimenggu Mobile and Neimenggu Communication Service Company (with English translation and schedule).(5)
4.8    Agreement on the Confirmation of Rights and Obligations, dated April 9, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation, China Mobile Group Design Institute Co., Ltd. And Beijing P&T Consulting & Design Institute (with English translation).(5)
4.9    Consent Letter to the Substitution of Borrowers under the Consigned Loan Agreement, dated February 13, 2004, between China Mobile Communications Corporation, Neimenggu Mobile, Neimenggu Communication Service Company and Beijing Chang’an Sub-branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (with English translation and schedule).(5)
4.10    Agreement on Sharing of Administrative Services and Administrative Costs, dated April 27, 2004, between China Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. And China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).(5)
4.11    Tax Indemnity dated July 1, 2002 between China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited, China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation.(3)
4.12    Co-operation Framework Agreement in respect of Indirect Loan dated May 10, 2002 between China Mobile Communications Corporation and China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited (with English translation).(3)]
4.13    Agreement on the Sales and Maintenance of Masts and Maintenance of Antennas and Feeder Lines, dated August 1, 2000, between Hebei Mobile and Hebei Provincial Posts and Telecommunications Equipment and Machinery Plant.(6)
4.14    Property Leasing and Management Services Agreement for the Years from 2008 to 2010, dated December 13, 2007, between China Mobile Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).(7)


Table of Contents
4.15    Telecommunications Services Agreement for the Years from 2008 to 2010, dated December 13, 2007, between China Mobile Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).(7)
4.16    Trademark License Agreement, dated January 1, 2008, between China Mobile Communications Corporation and China Mobile Limited (with English translation).(7)
4.17    Tripartite Agreement on the Transfer of Rights and Obligations Relating to the Interconnection and Settlement Arrangements, dated November 13, 2008, among China Mobile Communications Corporation, China Tietong Telecommunications Corporation and China Mobile Limited (with English translation). (8)
4.18    TD-SCDMA Network Capacity Leasing Agreement, dated December 29, 2008, between China Mobile Communications Corporation and China Mobile Limited (with English translation). (8)
4.19    Telecommunications Services Cooperation Agreement, dated November 6, 2009, between China Mobile Communications Corporation and China Mobile Limited (with English translation). (9)
4.20    Share Subscription Agreement, dated March 10, 2010, between China Mobile Group Guangdong Co., Ltd. And Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd. (with English summary). (9)
4.21    Property Leasing and Management Services Agreement for the Years from 2011 to 2013, dated December 21, 2010, between China Mobile Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).
4.22    Telecommunications Services Agreement for the Years from 2011 to 2013, dated December 21, 2010, between China Mobile Limited and China Mobile Communications Corporation (with English translation).
8.1    List of Major Subsidiaries.
11.1    Code of Ethics.(5)
12.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
12.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
13.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b).
13.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b).

 

(1) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 9, 2006.
(2) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 26, 2001.
(3) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2003.
(4) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 13, 2005.
(5) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2004.
(6) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-47256), filed with the SEC on October 30, 2000.
(7) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 11, 2008.
(8) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 23, 2009.
(9) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 1-14696), filed with the SEC on June 7, 2010.