3
6.
The only condition for the control of television
companies in the provisions for renewing television
licences recently announced by the Hong Kong Government is
that control should lie with "permanent residents in Hong
Kong". The nationality angle is thus blurred. This is an
important change to the existing legislation which has yet
to be explained. The press release by
by the Information
Department states that "the Broadcasting
Authority proposes that a local person should
holder of a permanent Hong Kong I.D. card, and ordinarily
resident in Hong Kong. Anyone who failed to meet that
criteria would be regarded as a 'foreigner' for the
purpose of the Television Ordinance." This provision
Services
be
the
would rigidly regard Chinese nationals who have resided in
Hong Kong for less than seven years as "foreigners" and
regard foreign nationals holding Hong Kong I.D. cards
"non-foreigners". This is obviously illegal and absurd.
but at present no foreign nationals have
permament ID cards-
anly BDTC/BIOS and cof I holders.
0184Z
So this is as
step in
direction.
the
right
ew
as