14
The Media
REM
HONG KONG has a thriving free Press made up of 388 publications - and newspaper readership figures put the population among the world's most avid readers.
There are three commercial television stations that reach an estimated three million viewers a day, and two radio stations that broadcast on seven channels in both English and Chinese. The price of a radio or television in Hong Kong is believed to be the lowest in the world and no licence is required for either. In most cases, the price of newspapers remains a mere 30 cents.
Press
Newspapers account for 121 of the 388 publications now registered with the Registrar of Newspapers. Some 350 copies of newspapers are printed for every 1,000 people in Hong Kong. In Asia, only Japan exceeds this figure, with 490 copies to every 1,000 people. The world average is 109 to every 1,000 people.
Hong Kong's newspapers include four English dailies and 107 Chinese language papers. The combined daily circulation of the English language papers is estimated at 115,000, while the Chinese newspapers have an estimated circulation of 1.6 million. Four of the Chinese dailies sell more than 100,000 copies each.
Periodicals represent a main sector of the Press. There are 267 periodicals - 194 Chinese, 50 English and 23 bi-lingual. These magazines cover a wide range of subjects, from specialist technical journals to local entertainment guides.
The Hong Kong Journalists' Association, established in 1968, has a membership of 600. It seeks to raise professional standards by pressing for better training in journalism and also counsels its members involved in disputes with employers.
An off-shoot of the association is the Hong Kong Press Club in Wan Chai, which provides social and working facilities for journalists. Informal discussions between journalists and people in the news are organised regularly at the club.
Chinese and English language newspapers are represented by the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong, which has 14 members and three associate members. It is empowered to act in matters affecting the interests of local newspapers, the society or its members.
The activities of the local office of the Press Foundation of Asia (PFA) include consultations with other organisations to help develop and expand the Press in Asia. The PFA is an association of Asian publishers and editors representing 300 publica- tions. It co-ordinates the functions of seven national Press institutes - from New Delhi to Korea.
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