WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1986
16
UPGC A GUIDE FOR FINANCING
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THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF A PUBLIC BROADCASTER SHOULD COME MAINLY FROM TAXPAYERS AND PERHAPS PARTLY FROM SPONSORS, THE HON RITA FAN SAID DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD REPORT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MRS FAN PROPOSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER THE METHOD OF FINANCING HIGHER EDUCATION AS A REFERENCE, AND SUBSIDISE THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER THROUGH AN ORGANISATION SIMILAR TO THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE.
+ IT IS FORESEEABLE THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF APPROPRIATION WILL, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, EXCEED THE CURRENT EXPENDITURE OF RTHK. BUT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXPLORE MEANS TO BOOST PUBLIC REVENUE, E.G. BY LEVYING A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF ROYALTY, SO AS TO COPE WITH THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE.+
MRS FAN SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE REORGANISATION OF RTHK INTO A PUBLIC BROADCASTER HAD ALREADY RECEIVED MAJORITY SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC, THE QUESTION OF HOW TO INCREASE THE TELEVISION AIR-TIME OF THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER HAD AROUSED MUCH DISPUTE.
IN PRINCIPLE, SHE THOUGHT THE AIR-TIME OF THE CHINESE CHANNELS OVER THE WEEKEND COULD BE ALLOCATED TO THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER. COMMERCIAL LICENSEES COULD NEGOTIATE WITH THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER FOR AN EXCHANGE OF AIR-TIME AND SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WOULD OFFER A FAIRLY HIGH DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY AND, IF SUITABLY APPLIED, WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO BOTH SIDES.
REGARDING THE NEW LICENCE PERIOD, MRS FAN PROPOSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF THE LICENCE PERIOD TO 12 YEARS SO AS TO ATTRACT TENDERERS OF GOOD QUALITY.
+SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE DOUBTS ON THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE LICENCE PERIOD BEYOND 1997 AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE FUTURE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT.
+BUT I THINK THAT BY DOING SO, THE PUBLIC WOULD GAIN GREATER CONFIDENCE IN THE SMOOTH TRANSITION OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997, BECAUSE THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO',+ SHE SAID,
ON THE PROPOSAL TO BAN TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS, MRS FAN SAID THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM LAY IN THE PUBLIC'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS SMOKING. SHE FELT THAT ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT SMOKING SHOULD NOT BE ENCOURAGED. OPINION HAD NOT REACHED THE STAGE THAT SMOKING SHOULD BE BANNED.
/+FROM THE