Edgar Filing: CHINA TELECOM CORP LTD

SC 13G

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

(Rule 13d-102)

Information Statement Pursuant to Rules 13d-1 and 13d-2

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

China Telecom Corporation Limited

(Name of Issuer)

Common H shares, par value RMB1.00 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

Y1505D102

(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2013

Date of Event Which Requires Filing of the Statement

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

x Rule 13d-1(b)

¨ Rule 13d-1(c)

¨ Rule 13d-1(d)

*	The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

13G


CUSIP No. Y1505D102				Page 2 of 14


1.	Name of reporting person S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Commonwealth Bank of Australia
2.	Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (a) ¨ (b) x
3.	SEC use only
4.	Citizenship or place of organization Australian Capital Territory, Commonwealth of Australia
Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with		5.	Sole voting power 0
		6.	Shared voting power 2,055,666,504 shares
		7.	Sole dispositive power 0
		8.	Shared dispositive power 2,055,666,504 shares
9.	Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person 2,055,666,504 shares
10.	Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares ¨
11.	Percent of class represented by amount in Row (9) Approximately 14.81% (based on 13,877,410,000 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2012, per Form 20-F dated April 29, 2013)
12.	Type of reporting person BK/HC

13G


CUSIP No. Y1505D102				Page 3 of 14


1.	Name of reporting person S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Colonial Holding Company Limited
2.	Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (a) ¨ (b) x
3.	SEC use only
4.	Citizenship or place of organization New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia
Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with		5.	Sole voting power 0
		6.	Shared voting power 2,055,666,504 shares
		7.	Sole dispositive power 0
		8.	Shared dispositive power 2,055,666,504 shares
9.	Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person 2,055,666,504 shares
10.	Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares ¨
11.	Percent of class represented by amount in Row (9) Approximately 14.81% (based on 13,877,410,000 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2012, per Form 20-F dated April 29, 2013)
12.	Type of reporting person HC

13G


CUSIP No. Y1505D102				Page 4 of 14


1.	Name of reporting person S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Commonwealth Insurance Holdings Limited
2.	Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (a) ¨ (b) x
3.	SEC use only
4.	Citizenship or place of organization New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia
Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with		5.	Sole voting power 0
		6.	Shared voting power 2,055,666,504 shares
		7.	Sole dispositive power 0
		8.	Shared dispositive power 2,055,666,504 shares
9.	Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person 2,055,666,504 shares
10.	Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares ¨
11.	Percent of class represented by amount in Row (9) Approximately 14.81% (based on 13,877,410,000 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2012, per Form 20-F dated April 29, 2013)
12.	Type of reporting person HC

13G


CUSIP No. Y1505D102				Page 5 of 14


1.	Name of reporting person S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Colonial First State Group Limited
2.	Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (a) ¨ (b) x
3.	SEC use only
4.	Citizenship or place of organization Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia
Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with		5.	Sole voting power 0
		6.	Shared voting power 2,053,174,470 shares
		7.	Sole dispositive power 0
		8.	Shared dispositive power 2,053,174,470 shares
9.	Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person 2,053,174,470 shares
10.	Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares ¨
11.	Percent of class represented by amount in Row (9) Approximately 14.795% (based on 13,877,410,000 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2012, per Form 20-F dated April 29, 2013)
12.	Type of reporting person HC

13G


CUSIP No. Y1505D102				Page 6 of 14


1.	Name of reporting person S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON First State Investment Management (UK) Limited
2.	Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (a) ¨ (b) x
3.	SEC use only
4.	Citizenship or place of organization Scotland, United Kingdom
Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with		5.	Sole voting power 0
		6.	Shared voting power 1,210,260,000 shares
		7.	Sole dispositive power 0
		8.	Shared dispositive power 1,210,260,000 shares
9.	Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person 1,210,260,000 shares
10.	Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares ¨
11.	Percent of class represented by amount in Row (9) Approximately 8.721% (based on 13,877,410,000 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2012, per Form 20-F dated April 29, 2013)
12.	Type of reporting person HC

13G


CUSIP No. Y1505D102				Page 7 of 14


Item 1(a)		Name of Issuer: China Telecom Corporation Limited

Item 1(b)		Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:

		31 Jinrong Street, Xicheng District,
		Beijing,
		People’s Republic of China 100033

Item 2(a)		Name of Person Filing

Item 2(b)		Address of Principal Business Office

Item 2(c)		Citizenship

		Commonwealth Bank of Australia
		Ground Floor, Tower 1
		201 Sussex Street
		Sydney, New South Wales, 2000
		Commonwealth of Australia
		Australian Capital Territory

		Colonial Holding Company Limited
		Ground Floor, Tower 1
		201 Sussex Street
		Sydney, New South Wales, 2000.
		Commonwealth of Australia
		New South Wales

		Commonwealth Insurance Holdings Limited
		Ground Floor, Tower 1
		201 Sussex Street
		Sydney, New South Wales, 2000
		Commonwealth of Australia
		New South Wales

		Colonial First State Group Limited
		Ground Floor, Tower 1
		201 Sussex Street
		Sydney, New South Wales, 2000
		Commonwealth of Australia
		Victoria

		First State Investment Management (UK) Limited
		23 St Andrew Square
		Edinburgh EH2 1BB
		Scotland

13G


CUSIP No. Y1505D102				Page 8 of 14


Item 2(d)	Title of Class of Securities:

	Common H shares, par value RMB1.00 per share

Item 2(e)	CUSIP Number:	Y1505D102

Item 3	If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:


(a)	¨	Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act;

(b)	¨	Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act;

(c)	¨	Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange Act;

(d)	¨	Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act;

(e)	¨	An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

(f)	¨	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

(g)	x	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

(h)	¨	A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;

(i)	¨	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act;

(j)	x	A non-U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d–1(b)(1)(ii)(J);

(k)	¨	Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).

If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d–1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: First State Investment Management (UK) Limited are investment advisers registered pursuant to the law of the jurisdiction in which each is located.

If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this box: ¨

13G


CUSIP No. Y1505D102				Page 9 of 14


Item 4		Ownership:

(a)

Amount beneficially owned:

Incorporated by reference to Item 9 of the cover page pertaining to each reporting person.

(b)

Percent of Class:

Incorporated by reference to Item 11 of the cover page pertaining to each reporting person.

(c)

Number of shares as to which such person has:


		(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote:

		Incorporated by reference to Item 5 of the cover page pertaining to each reporting person.

		(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:

		Incorporated by reference to Item 6 of the cover page pertaining to each reporting person.

		(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

		Incorporated by reference to Item 7 of the cover page pertaining to each reporting person.

		(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

		Incorporated by reference to Item 8 of the cover page pertaining to each reporting person.


Item 5		Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:

		Not Applicable.

Item 6		Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:

		Not Applicable.

Item 7		Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company:

		See Exhibit 99.2.

Item 8		Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:

		Not Applicable.

Item 9		Notice of Dissolution of Group:

		Not Applicable.

Item 10		Certification:

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. I also certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the foreign

13G


CUSIP No. Y1505D102				Page 10 of 14

regulatory schemes applicable to the relevant subsidiaries referenced in Exhibit 99.2 to this Schedule 13G are substantially comparable to the regulatory scheme applicable to the functionally equivalent U.S. institution(s), and that I undertake to furnish to the Commission staff, upon request, information that would otherwise be disclosed in a Schedule 13D.

13G


CUSIP No. Y1505D102				Page 11 of 14

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated this 13th day of February, 2014.


Commonwealth Bank of Australia

By:		/s/ Margaret Taylor
Name:		Margaret Taylor
Title:		Company Secretary

Colonial Holding Company Limited

By:		/s/ Michael Venter
Name:		Michael Venter
Title:		Director

Commonwealth Insurance Holdings Limited

By:		/s/ Michael Venter
Name:		Michael Venter
Title:		Director

Colonial First State Group Limited

By:		/s/ Michael Venter
Name:		Michael Venter
Title:		Director

First State Investment Management (UK) Limited

By:		/s/ Chris Turpin
Name:		Chris Turpin
Title:		Director

13G


CUSIP No. Y1505D102				Page 12 of 14

INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit No.		Exhibit

99.1		Joint Filing Agreement

99.2		Item 7 Information