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CONFIDENTIAL
MR ROYLE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG:
11 15 NOVEMBER 1972
TELEVISION
BRIEF NO 2
५४
Inalat: pk (3/5461
Copy for: NKK 13
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1. On 5 March 1957, Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Limited (RTV(HK)),
a subsidiary of Rediffusion Ltd of the U.K., was granted an
exclusive licence under the Telecommunications Ordinance to
operate a wired television service, which could both originate
programmes and relay the programmes of other broadcasters.
licence expires on 30 April 1973 and does not contain a right
of renewal. In 1965, after a public tender, a licence was
granted under the Television Ordinance to Television Broadcasts
Limited (TVB) giving the Company an exclusive right to operate
a wireless television service for five years from 19 November 1967.
Thereafter the licence was to be renewable every five years on a
non-exclusive basis until November 1982.
2. The Working Party on the future of Broadcasting, set up by
the Hong Kong Government early in 1970, reported in October 1971
that a second wireless television service (which would provide for
both English and Chinese services) should be negotiated with
RTV (HK) and that a third service (Chinese only) should be put out
to public tender. The Governor in Council overruled the Working
Party's recommendation on this particular point and decided
that public tenders should be invited for the second wireless
television licence as well. Rediffusion made representations to
the FCO urging that RTV (HK) should be granted a wireless
television licence by private agreement with the Hong Kong
Government as recommended by the Working Party. RTV (HK) feared
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CONFIDENTIAL