Chunghwa plans to buy stake in Vietnamese carrier

"In the long run, that can be one of our major incomes," Hochen, 57, said.

The carrier had NT$329 billion in plant, property and equipment at the end of September.

Chunghwa plans to increase cash returned to shareholders should the government ease limits on special dividends and stock cancellations, Hochen said. The company's cash pile increased to 12 percent of assets by the end of September, up from 1 percent at the end of 2001, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The phone-service provider has received "good signs" from the government it may increase during the first quarter the amount Chunghwa can pay in special dividends, Hochen said. Still, an actual so-called capital reduction may not occur this year, he said, without elaborating.