COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
During the year, the BA made recommendations to the Chief Executive in Council concerning the renewal of the commercial television broadcasting licences of Asia Television Limited and Television Broadcasts Limited. It also conducted a mid-term review of the initial subscription television broadcasting licence held by Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (formerly known as Wharf Cable Limited). Moreover, the BA has embarked on a review of the existing Codes of Practice with a view to issuing a set of Generic Codes of Practice on Programme and Advertising Standards upon the enactment of the Broadcasting Bill.
In 1999, the BA's Complaints Committee dealt with 337 complaints. Having considered the recommendations of the Complaints Committee, the BA issued three warnings and four serious warnings, and imposed one financial penalty of $10,000.
Television
Hong Kong's television viewers have access to 39 domestic and regional television channels in various languages. These include four free-to-air commercial channels, over 30 pay cable channels and a variety of free-to-air satellite channels.
Commercial Television
The two commercial stations, Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) and Asia Television Limited (ATV), are each licensed to broadcast one Cantonese and one English-language channel. During 1999, the two stations broadcast about 600 hours of programmes each week. Serialised dramas, entertainment magazines, game contests and variety specials remained the most popular programmes. Both stations. are required by law to broadcast programmes as the Broadcasting Authority may specify. These include programmes produced by the publicly-funded Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), which produces about 10 hours of programmes weekly to supplement the commercial TV stations' output.
Subscription Television
Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (HKCTV) is licensed to operate a subscription television broadcasting service. It broadcasts over 30 channels, using a combination of its fibre-optic network and Microwave Multipoint Distribution System (MMDS) network. The service includes several locally produced channels, notably a 24-hour Cantonese news service, and channels devoted to sports, films, music, children's programmes and finance. It also carries several overseas channels. To encourage wider choice for consumers and in recognition of the convergence in technology, the Government in August invited HKCTV to submit an application for operating telecommunication services over its cable network.
By the end of 1999, about 960 000 homes were passed by HKCTV's optical fibre network and about 730 000 homes were served by its MMDS network. The number of household subscribers was over 450 000.
Satellite Television
Many regional and international broadcasters have chosen Hong Kong as their Asian broadcasting hub, attracted by the excellent infrastructure and world-class telecommunication facilities, as well as the other ingredients that make Hong Kong the best place to do business in Asia. Hong Kong is the home base for Satellite Television Asian Region Limited (STAR TV). It transmits more than 30 channels in
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