CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE F CO
TELNO 1788
OF 04125OZ JUNE 91
INFO IMMEDIATE HKGO LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL
RECE:
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JUN 1991
IN
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113175
MDHIAN 9599
YOUR TELNO 1039: BBC WORLD SERVICE TELEVISION AND HUTCHISON
1
ช
HUTCHISON ARE A ONE-THIRD SHAREHOLDER IN ASIASAT AND ALSO CONTROL HUTCHVISION, THE SATELLITE TV COMPANY UPLINKING FROM HONG KONG. HUTCHVISION (HV) HOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL THE TRANSPONDERS ON ASIASAT TO BE USED FOR TELEVISION BROADCASTING, SO THE BBC WORLD SERVICE TELEVISION WILL HAVE TO CONTRACT WITH HV FOR THE USE OF ANY TRANSPONDER FOR 24 HOUR BROADCASTING TO ASIA.
2.
HV, AS A CONDITION OF THEIR LICENCE, MAY NOT BROADCAST PROGRAMMES IN CANTONESE BEFORE 30 OCTOBER 1993 WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF HKG. WE DO NOT PROPOSE TO GRANT SUCH PERMISSION AT THIS STAGE. AFTER 30 OCTOBER 1993 HV MAY BROADCAST RE-RUNS IN CANTONESE, BUT THE BROADCAST OF FIRST-RUN PROGRAMMES TO HONG KONG AUDIENCES IN CANTONESE WILL REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF HKG.
3.
WE SEE NO OBJECTION TO HV CONTRACTING WITH THE BBC FOR THE BBC TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMES FOR HV'S SERVICES, AND SEE NO/NO REASON TO DISCOURAGE THE DEAL. HOWEVER, THE BBC SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE LIMITATIONS ON CANTONESE PROGRAMMING.
4.
WE WOULD WELCOME FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED DEAL WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. TUR IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE PROPOSAL UNDER CONSIDERATION INVOLVES. THE ADVICE IN PARAGRAPHS 1-3 ABOVE IS BASED ON OUR CONSTRUCTION OF WHAT IS INTENDED.
WILSON
YYYY
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CONFIDENTIAL