CONFIDENTIAL
f.
100078
MDHIAN 1938
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 458
OF 101145Z FEBRUARY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HKB 011/2
R
TOP COPY Q DIST?
1. EXCO WILL BE ASKED TO DECIDE ON THE PROPOSED INTRODUCTION OF THE
RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG BOARD OF GOVERNORS BILL 1989 IN ITS
MEETING ON 14 FEBRUARY 1989.
2. THE OBJECT OF THE BILL IS TO ESTABLISH A STATUTORY BOARD OF GOVERNORS (THE BOARD) FOR RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG (RTHK). THE BOARD'S OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS RTHK'S EXISTING OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE BILL, RTHK WILL BECOME THE EXECUTIVE ARM OF THE BOARD BUT WILL REMAIN A
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE. THE DIRECTOR OF BORADCASTING WILL BECOME THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE BOARD. THIS IS
SIMILAR TO THE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND
THE REGIONALS SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHICH SERVE THE URBAN AND
REGIONAL COUNCILS RESPECTIVELY. THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING THE BOARD IS TO ENHANCE RTHK'S IMAGE AS AN IMPARTIAL AND EDITORIALLY
INDEPENDENT BROADCASTER AND ALLOW IT GREATER OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY.
3 =
THE BOARD WILL NOT HAVE DIRECT POWERS OF EXPENDITURE AND
REVENUE COLLECTION OR INVESTMENT OTHER THAN THROUGH RTHK. IT WILL
ALSO BE SUBJECT TO DETAILED ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
TO BE AGREED WITH THE GOVERNMENT. THE BOARD'S OVERALL TERMS OF REFERENCE WILL BE LAID DOWN BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE LEGISLATION
TO ESTABLISH THE BOARD AND WILL REMAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
POLICY SECRETARY CONCERNED.
4.
THE CHINESE ARE SENSITIVE ABOUT GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS TO TRANSFER
ANY OF ITS EXISTING POWERS TO STATUTORY BODIES. ASSUMING EXCO
APPROVES THE BILL, WE THEREFORE PROPOSE THAT THE PA ON THE FOLLOWING
DAY SHOULD BRIEF BOTH THE NCNA AND THE CHINESE JLG OFFICES TOGETHER.
HE WILL EMPHASIZE TO THEM THAT UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS RTHK'S
ROLE WILL REMAIN ESSENTIALLY THE SAME. RTHK WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN IMPARTIAL AND BALANCED BROADCASTER WITHIN THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND NOT
BE SUBJECT TO COMMERCIAL PRESSURE: AND IT WILL OPERATE WITHIN A
POLICY FRAMEWORK LAID DOWN BY THE GOVERNMENT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH
DETALED ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO BE AGREED WITH
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CONFIDENTIAL