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CONFIDENTIAL
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A, B,
C
D, E,
For discussion
on 12th December 1972
XCC(72)922
Copy No $2.
MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
THE FUTURE OF BROADCASTING: WIRELESS TELEVISION
TELEVISION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1973
On 22nd February 1972 Council considered memorandum XCC(72)14 which dealt with the recommendations of the Working Party on the future of broadcasting. Members advised, inter alia, that public tenders be invited simultaneously for a second wireless tele- vision broadcasting licence, which would provide both English and Chinese Services, and a third licence which would provide a single service in Chinese. On 28th March and 11th April 1972 Council con- sidered memoranda XCC(72)24 and XCC(72)28 and, inter alia, advised that the remaining recommendations of the Working Party should be accepted apart from those dealing with weather programmes which were deferred for later consideration. Copies of the three memoranda are attached at Annexes A, B and C; and of the decisions taken at Annexes D, E and F.
The purpose of this memorandum is:
F
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(a)
to recommend further action on weather pro- grammes. (Paragraph 3);
(b)
to seek the approval of Members for the Television (Amendment) Bill 1973 and the proforma licence for the new stations together with the related Schedules. (Paragraph 4);
(c)
to seek the approval of Members for a time- table. (Paragraph 5-7);
(d)
to seek decisions on certain matters of policy which have arisen since the discussion of the earlier memoranda. (Paragraphs 8-26).
Weather programmes
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The Working Party proposed that the Royal Observatory should provide assistance free of charge to those licensees who wished to produce their own weather programmes and also that official weather programmes should be produced by RHKTV. Members agreed to defer a decision on these recommendations so that the proposals could be examined in more detail. Indications are that their full implementation would be expensive without providing wholly satisfactory results, though the costings need further consideration. To avoid delay in calling for tenders for the two new television licences, it is recommended that for the present licensees should be allowed to continue to produce their own weather programmes from sources approved by the Television Authority. A decision can then be taken later about the precise services which the Royal Observatory should provide to assist the stations in the
CONFIDENTIAL
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