24 JUL '91 10:15
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE
TU
1
PAGE.004
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(iv) This is an opportunity for British programming with a return for Britain.
(v)
Satellite subscription permission for Hong Kong was originally being held back in order to protect the revenue base of the
now aborted Hong Kong cable (But Run
project which would have been permitted
operate subscription service.
to
a
ан
(BWFW Run Run Shaw has since shown interest, I stink)
Cantonese Background: Hutchvision is not permitted by its licence to broadcast in Cantonese although, as with subscription, this restriction can be removed by the Governor-in Council at any time before October 1993. It appears that officials in the Broadcasting and Recreation Department in Hong Kong have given assurances to TVB and ATV that they will have no competition in Cantonese from satellite until then. have until June 1992 to get this restriction dropped and stand to
to gain 2% additional profit
in consideration. Additionally our contract with Hutchison makes provision for us to receive £300,000 p.a. to cover the costs of simultaneous translation of the news on our channel into Cantonese. A similar provision applies to Mandarin on which we have no restrictions.
Argument:
share
i) Bush House and the FCO have always agreed that it is balance
ii)
necessary
to
as
transmissions in Mandarin with transmissions in Cantonese. This avoids being seen targetting the Mandarin speaking elites in Beijing: we are aiming for the two language speaking groups,
both Communist and Capitalist.
There are some 100 million Cantonese speakers spread around the Chinese diaspora of South Asia, including some 60 million in South China and
and 6 million in Hong Kong. Thus 100 million may be deprived
protect the ATV/TVB monopoly, unless we get permission Cantonese.
to
to
broadcast
in
We