BACKGROUND
1.
Hutchison's TV broadcastiong subsidiary, Hutchvision, run by Mr Li Ka Shing's second son, Mr Richard Li, is a commercial partner of BBC World Service Television (WSTV). Since November 1991 WSTV have provided a 24-hour news and current affairs channel for Hutchvision's "Star TV", which is transmitted by Asiasat with a footprint stretching from the Gulf to Japan across the whole of Asia. We assisted in the negotiations which led to this deal by providing Hutchvision with an official letter of comfort assuring them of the Government's goodwill and support for the venture.
2. During Mr Li's recent call on the Secretary of State he suggested that the BBC lacked the resources to open more offices so as to be able to cover news reporting in the same way as CNN. The Secretary of State replied that he would look into the matter.
3.
BBC WSTV say that the BBC have more correspondents and regular contributors (over 200) and bureaux (50) than CNN. WSTV believe that Mr Li perhaps meant that WSTV should carry more "raw news" reporting in the CNN style. But this is not a question of resources, rather of editorial policy and presentation. WSTV seek to deliver a different and superior product to CNN, with greater depth and more emphasis on interpretation and analysis. This is BBC's traditional strength. They have done their best to meet Hutchvision's wishes in improving their programming, for instance by extending their news bulletins. The audience figures (to which Mr Li referred) confirm that WSTV's formula is attractive and and commercially successful.
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