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broadband wireless access (BWA) technologies. This will enable greater usage of broadband technologies in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has a vibrant broadcasting industry offering a wide range of services. The two terrestrial television broadcasters officially launched digital broadcasting in December 2007, providing 13 domestic channels in Chinese and English free of charge. Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), a government department, produces programmes of public interest for broadcast on free TV channels. In addition, subscribers to three domestic pay TV operators can access more than 300 local and overseas television channels broadcasting programmes in different languages. There are three radio stations, including RTHK, broadcasting on 13 channels in Hong Kong. In November, the Government granted a sound broadcasting licence to Wave Media Limited to operate a new AM Chinese language radio station. Wave Media Limited is required to start broadcasting within two years. Hong Kong, which has 17 licensed satellite television broadcasters providing about 190 channels for the Asia-Pacific region, is regarded as a regional broadcasting hub.
Hong Kong is one of the world's major film production centres. A total of 67 Hong Kong movies were released in 2008, realising $263.9 million in box office receipts. The film industry is a flagship of Hong Kong's creative industries. The Government is committed to promoting its development and has introduced a host of measures to assist it in strengthening its competitiveness in both the local and global markets.
The Government reviews regularly the laws on published articles, particularly those targeted young people, to ensure they do not breach the standards of public decency. The first stage review of the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance commenced in October and the public consultation exercise will be completed in early 2009.
The Mass Media
Hong Kong's mass media at the end of 2008 included 45 daily newspapers, a number of electronic newspapers, 699 periodicals, two domestic free television programme service licensees, three domestic pay television programme service licensees, 17 non-domestic television programme service licensees, one government- funded public service broadcaster and two sound broadcasting licensees.
The availability of the latest telecommunications technology and keen interest in Hong Kong's affairs have attracted many international news agencies, newspapers with international readership and overseas broadcasting corporations to establish regional headquarters or representative offices here. The production of regional publications in Hong Kong underlines its importance as a financial, industrial, trading and communications centre.
The Press
The registered Hong Kong press at year-end included 20 Chinese-language dailies, 13 English-language dailies (one in Braille and with an internet edition), seven bilingual dailies and five in Japanese. Of the Chinese-language dailies, 14
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