COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
year involving all staff working in the 106 counter offices. Training was given to staff on how to provide better service to the public.
A new logo was introduced in 1989 to reflect more graphically the functions of the Post Office and to project an image of forwardness, dynamism, speed and efficiency. New uniforms were also designed for postmen, to give them a better and more modern public image.
Looking ahead, the Post Office plans to move further towards mechanisation of its processes. A $109 million mechanised letter sorting system is being installed in the mail processing centres of the General Post Office and the International Mail Centre as well as eight other large district mail delivery offices in the territory. The throughput of this new system will be in the region of 28 000 items per hour. By comparison the throughput of the existing manual system is about 1 000 items per hour per sorter. The new system will be fully operational in 1990, by which time the Hong Kong Post Office will have achieved a new milestone in that it will be operating the only mechanised sorting system in the world which sorts mail items directly without requiring the sender to use a post code or zip code.
The Post Office is also looking into the possibility of applying new technology to automated counter transactions, and of using a new type of stamp vending machine to improve efficiency and service to the public outside office hours.
Broadcasting Authority
The regulation of wireless television and commercial sound broadcasting is the respon- sibility of the Broadcasting Authority, a statutory body established in September 1987. The authority has 12 members, nine representing a cross-section of the community and three government officials. Its major functions are to administer the provisions of the Television Ordinance for television broadcasting and the provisions of the Telecommunication Ordinance for commercial radio broadcasting. It is also closely concerned with all aspects of broadcasting standards.
During the year the authority advised the government on the terms and conditions under which a new licence for the Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited (Commercial Radio) should be granted, and in addition recommended that a second licence for commercial radio broadcasting should be granted in 1990. It also advised on the conditions for inviting proposals for cable television. The authority conducted a comprehensive inquiry into a suitable system of cable television for Hong Kong and the legislative, technical and regulatory framework for its implementation and carried out a detailed examination and assessment of all cable television proposals submitted.
The authority formed a working group in May 1988 to review the Codes of Practice on programme, advertising, and technical standards for television. The group subsequently recommended changes to the codes on the family viewing policy, repeats of feature films and children's programmes. Following the extension of the authority's jurisdiction to cover commercial radio broadcasting in August, the working group also started a review of the provisions of the Codes of Practice on programme and advertising standards on radio.
Complaints Committee
Complaints relating to the television industry are considered by the Complaints Committee of the authority. During the year, 903 complaints were received, representing an increase of 75 per cent in comparison with 515 in 1988. Most of the complaints were made through the committee's 24-hour complaints hotline. They were primarily concerned with the quality and standard of television programmes. During the year, the authority, acting on the
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