WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1986
- 5 -
UNOFFICIALS REACH CONSENSUS ON EIGHT PRINCIPLES
*****
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE REPORT OF THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD HAS REACHED UNANIMOUS CONSENSUS ON EIGHT PRINCIPLES WHICH HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY ALL UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI TOLD THE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
DR HO, CONVENER OF THE GROUP, WAS LEADING OFF THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE BOARD'S REPORT.
ELABORATING ON THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES, DR NO SAID THAT FIRST THE GOVERNMENT HAD A DUTY TO PRESCRIBE BROAD GUIDELINES ON THE STANDARDS AND TYPES OF PROGRAMMES APPROPRIATE FOR THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY AND THAT THE INDUSTRY SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO SOME FORM OF REGULATION AND MONITORING IN THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.
+SECOND, THE AIRWAVES ARE THE LIMITED PROPERTY OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THEREFORE, NOT ONLY DOES THE RIGHT TO BROADCAST MUST BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, PAYMENT SHOULD BE MADE TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE USE OF THE AIRWAVES, HE SAID.
THIRD, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST WATCH DEVELOPMENTS, SUCH AS CABLE TELEVISION AND DIRECT SATELLITE TRANSMISSIONS, ESPECIALLY AS THEY APPLY TO HONG KONG.
FOURTH, FAIR AND HEALTHY COMPETITION WOULD ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMMES AND WOULD BENEFIT BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE INDUSTRY.
FIFTH, THE RIGHT TO BROADCAST SHOULD BE LIMITED, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS REVIEW, TO COMMERCIAL LICENSEES AND A PUBLIC BROADCASTER,
SIXTH, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REGULATE AND MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY AND THIS SHOULD BE ENTRUSTED TO A BROADCASTING AUTHORITY.
+THE AUTHORITY SHOULD, HAVING REGARD TO THE PREVAILING STANDARD OF PUBLIC DECENCY, ENSURE THAT AN ADEQUATE. COMPREHENSIVE AND BALANCED SERVICE WHICH IS RESPONSIVE TO THE DIVERSE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, IS PROVIDED, DR HO SAID.
HE ADDED THAT PUBLIC HEARINGS SHOULD BE HELD BEFORE PERMISSION WAS GIVEN TO BROADCAST AT WHICH THE PERFORMANCE OF EXISTING LICENSEES, THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER, AND POTENTIAL APPLICANTS, WAS EXAMINED.
SEVENTH, THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY SHOULD ENSURE ITS PROGRAMMING WAS BALANCED IN CONTENT, ENTERTAINING, INFORMATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL AND AT THE SAME TIME SHOULD CONFORM TO ALL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRODUCTION AND TRANSMISSION OF PROGRAMMES.
'EIGHTH, THERE