in this area as well as rapid technological innovation, giving rise to possible problems of incompatibility between the systems in use. Radio Television Hong Kong has the necessary equipment to enable the Authority to preview the stations' material but it is considered wrong in principle that the Department should be involved in any way in the process of regulation of the commercial television stations. The Television Advisory Board's recommendation that the Authority should be given the right to use the stations' equipment for previewing of their material is therefore supported. In effect, the proposal will formalise the present procedure whereby stations voluntarily make available their equipment to the Authority. Although it is expected that this procedure will continue to be acceptable to the licensees, a situation might arise (especially if performance standards are to be more strictly enforced) where voluntary co-operation might be refused and where the Authority would need powers of direction. However, given that the stations might have genuine difficulties in making their equip- ment available at short notice, it is proposed that they should be given the option in the Ordinance of providing material to the Authority in such a form as may be specified by the Authority (that is, in a form which is compatible with the Authority's viewing equipment).
No further matters have been considered by the Television Advisory Board which have not been included in the summary of recommendations at paragraph 23:
(a):
RTVS Representations on the Composition and Functions of the Television Advisory Board (paragraph 10 and Appendices A and B to the report)
Under section 38(1) of the Television Ordinance, a licensee may appeal to the Governor in Council. against any ruling or direction issued by the Television Authority. RTV has submitted that this procedure is too formal and large a step for an aggrieved party to take at an early stage. Furthermore, the company considers it inappropriate that the Authority is Chair- man of the Board which advises and perhaps criticises him.
CONFIDENTIAL