FRIORITY CYPHER/CAT A
FM F.C.0.
061900Z
+
CONFIDENTIAL
A
CONFIDENTIAL *
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TO:
57)
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.1987 OF 6 DECEMBER, 1972
MY TELEGRAM NO 1918: TVB
1. COLONEL STIRLING CAME TO SEE HONG KONG AND INDIAN OCEAN
DEPARTMENT ON 4 DECEMBER FOLLOWING HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG.
2. HE SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED HIS GROUND SOMEWHAT. HE NOW SAYS
THAT, WHILE TVB ARE STILL WORRIED ABOUT THE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS OF THE USE OF BAND IV AND BAND V, THEY ARE MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL COMPETITION FROM THE THIRD, CHINESE, CHANNEL. THEY HAD ONLY NOW REALISED (AS HE PUT IT) THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD
ABANDONED THE INTENTION THAT THE THIRD CHANNEL SHOULD BE DEVOTED
TO PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING. IN TVB'S VIEW, THREE CHANNELS, ALL DEVOTED TO COMMERCIAL PROGRAMMES AND COMMERCIAL RETURN, WOULD
BE BOUND TO LEAD TO A DECLINE OF STANDARDS. IT WOULD ALSO LEAD TO THE BANKRUPTCY OF ONE OR OTHER COMPANY, AS THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH
ADVERTISING REVENUE TO GO ROUND.
3.
STIRLING CONFIRMED THAT HE HAD GONE TO HONG KONG WITH THE
PERSONAL INTENTION OF SELLING OUT HIS TVB SHARES AND OF OFFERING
HIS SERVICES FOR A ''PUBLIC SERVICE" THIRD CHANNEL. THE TVB
DOARD AS A WHOLE HOPED THAT THE THIRD CHANNEL WOULD BE CANCELLED.
HE PERSONALLY DID NOT. BUT HE HOPED THAT IT WOULD BE DEALYED WHILE
YOU THOUGHT OUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING.
WE ASKED COLONEL STIRLING WHETHER HIS ANXIETY ABOUT THE THIRD
CHANNEL NOW TOOK PRECEDENCE OVER THE TECHNICAL PROBLEM OF THE USE
OF BAND IV AND BAND V. HE REPLIED THAT THE TWO WERE RELATED SINCE
THE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE INCREASED IF THREE CHANNELS
HAD TO BE ACCOMMODATED, BUT HE THOUGHT TVB NOW GAVE PRIORITY TO A
REVIEW OF THE THIRD CHANNEL. SUBJECT TO THIS, AND PROVIDED THAT THE
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS OF INTERFERENCE AND TVB'S NEED TO HAVE ACCESS
TO ITS EXISTING CUSTOMERS COULD BE MET, HIS BOARD WOULD BE WILLING
CONFIDENTIAL
/ TO OFFER