Share prices of China's two largest fixed-line phone operators soared Tuesday in Hong Kong trading after a comment by a government official that 3G (third generation) licenses could be issued soon. The largest of the two, China Telecom, went up 15.6% to US$0.51 (HK$4.01) and China Netcom jumped 8.5% to US$2.07 (HK$16.16). Observers believe the two fixed-line operators will be the first recipients of 3G licenses, which would make up for a shortfall in recent growth when compared to mobile operators like giant China Mobile, Reuters reported. Minister of Information Industry Wang Xudong said on Tuesday that licenses could be given out very soon but did not provide a timetable. He said China is still committed to offer 3G services – enabling video calls and faster downloading speeds – during the Olympics, state-owned China Daily reported.