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COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
Printing and Publishing The international status of Hong Kong's printing industry has continued to grow steadily in recent years, based upon a reputation for quality and economy. As a leading centre for printing and publishing, the territory's growth has led to the formation of 3 811 printing establishments, employing 34 486 people, and more than 200 publishing houses, including many from overseas which have set up offices or regional headquarters here. Continued growth of the industry during the year can be attributed to the confidence of employers in the future of Hong Kong, and to the relative depreciation of the Hong Kong dollar against most other currencies which has enabled Hong Kong printers to obtain more orders from overseas. Hong Kong printers are still investing substantially in advanced machinery and equipment and are taking a more positive step in developing the Unites States market.
The industry constitutes eight per cent of all manufacturing establishments and four per cent of employment in the manufacturing sector. Most of the printing factories (77 per cent) are engaged in general jobbing work, and most of the remainder deal with related work, such as typesetting and bookbinding. There are also 31 newspaper printers.
Use of the latest technology, especially computerised equipment, has enabled the industry to become highly specialised. The local electronics industry contributes to the plant and equipment of the more sophisticated printing companies and also the publishers, who are becoming increasingly involved in the use of data and word-processing systems for editorial production and stock control.
The sales and marketing of data and word-processing systems are now handled by more than 100 companies offering over 200 systems. The output data can be converted or interfaced with typesetting equipment at realistic cost to provide publishers with the additional benefits of fast and cost-efficient printing. An increasing number of Chinese language word-processors are being installed to meet demand.
Domestic exports of printed matter increased in value terms by 18 per cent over the previous year. Material printed locally with a total value of $2,667 million was exported, with the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Australia and Taiwan being the main customers. Books and pamphlets, newspapers, journals and periodicals accounted for over 67 per cent of exports of printed products. The biggest customers for this reading material were the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Overall, the printing and publishing industries contributed four per cent of the net output of the manufacturing sector.
Broadcasting Authority
The regulation of the television industry is the responsibility of the Broadcasting Authority which was established as a statutory body in September 1987. The authority comprises 12 members nine members from a broad cross-section of the community and three government officials. Its major functions are to administer the provisions of the Television Ordinance and to secure proper standards of television broadcasting, both in terms of content and technical performance. It is intended that in future its responsibilities should also extend to cable television and radio broadcasting.
During the year the most important task undertaken by the authority was to advise on the terms and conditions under which the new wireless television lincences should be granted to Television Broadcasts Limited and Asia Television Limited.
Implementation of the new terms and conditions required amendments to be made to the Television Ordinance and revisions in the Codes of Practice issued by the authority under the Ordinance, in addition to the inclusion of suitable conditions in the new licences.