XCC (86) 122
Conclusion and Recommendations
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Administration
be
In view of the above arguments the considers that it is not justified to set
up a public broadcaster as a fifth service or allocate to it one of the existing English language services. The Administration endorses the BRB's
the BRB's recommendation that audience needs
needs can met by increasing RTHK's presence on the existing commercial services. If in future the minority need for alternative programming grows, the commercial stations are likely to respond to it, while the advent of multiplex sound, cable and satellite TV are also likely to increase viewers' choice in future.
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(a)
The Administration therefore recommends that
the existing pattern of two television licensees each operating one Chinese and one English language service continue for the time being; and
(b) RTHK should continue to utilise airtime
the commercial services rather than allocated a separate service.
on
be
As noted in paragraph 10 above, the Administration will seek to increase RTHK's presence by increasing RTHK's access to television prime-time. The precise manner of RTHK' S future access to commercial airtime,
airtime, as well as the station's future status, organisational structure (including the establishment of a Board of Governors) and funding arrangements, will be the subject of a
subject of a separate submission to the Council in the near future.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CABLE TELEVISION
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The Broadcasting Review Board recommended that the introduction of cable television to Hong Kong should be allowed. The Administration has since studied the prospect for cable TV development and has made some preliminary observations.
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First, from a technical point of view, it is feasible to introduce cable television to Hong Kong. Indeed, the installation of a cable network in Hong Kong may be easier than elsewhere, in view of the territory's high population density, and because Hong Kong already possesses some of the infrastructure (such as underground ducting, the Common Antenna Broadcasting Distribution (CABD) television systems in many
housing blocks) suitable for cable television.