COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
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Self-Provision
In June 1995, through the grant of the Self-Provided External Telecommunications System (SPETS) licence, companies and organisations were permitted to provide their own external circuits for internal communications. A major objective of the SPETS licence was to improve the attractiveness of Hong Kong as a telecommunications hub by letting companies and organisations make use of the latest telecommunications technologies to meet their corporate communication needs. By the end of 1995, 20 SPETS licences had been issued.
Satellite Communications
To meet the growing demand for telecommunications and broadcasting services in the Asia-Pacific region, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited, a Hong Kong-registered company, launched its second satellite, AsiaSat-2 on November 28, 1995. With 33 transponders on board, AsiaSat-2 has a much higher capacity than AsiaSat-1, launched in 1990. Its footprint covers more than 50 countries in the region. AsiaSat also plans for a third satellite to be launched in 1997. Another Hong Kong-registered company, APT Satellite Company Limited, provides satellite telecommunications services to the region through APSTAR-I, launched in 1994. The company plans to launch two new satellites, APSTAR-IA in early 1996 and APSTAR-IIR later in the year.
International Activities
Hong Kong continued to participate actively in the activities of international and regional telecommunications organisations and various co-operative fora and projects. During 1995, Hong Kong was represented in conferences and meetings held by the International Telecommunications Union, the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum, the Asia Pacific Telecommunity, the Pacific Economic Co-operation Council, the International Maritime Organisation, the World Trade Organisation and various conferences, seminars and exhibitions held by the private sector in the telecommunications industry.
Broadcasting Policy
The main objective is to give the public the widest possible choice of high-quality television and radio programmes at affordable prices and to reinforce Hong Kong as a broadcasting hub for Asia. This generates three main aims: to provide conditions in which all broadcasters can freely pursue their business in a fair and equitable environment; to safeguard media freedom through diversity and to protect viewers' interests through the maintenance of programming standards that reflect community standards of taste and decency.
The broadcasting scene in Hong Kong has undergone rapid changes in recent years. This renders it necessary to keep existing broadcasting policy under review, and, where necessary, to formulate new broadcasting policy and regulations so that a sound and fair regulatory regime is provided for broadcasters to operate under. The major work in 1995 included: (a) licence amendments after the mid-term review of the licences of Asia Television Limited (ATV) and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB); (b) preparation for a review on the deregulation of the subscription television service