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BANKING BILL PASSED
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1986
THE BANKING BILL 1986 WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THREE OTHER BILLS
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ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, PUBLIC BUS SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 AND ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 - WERE READ A SECOND TIME AND DEBATE ON THEM WAS AJOURNED.
THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED TO JUNE 4.
CONCERN OVER CHILDREN'S TV PROGRAMMING
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THE TELEVISION ADVISORY BOARD HAS VOICED ITS CONCERN OVER THE SLOW PROGRESS OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING ON TELEVISION.
IN ITS 11TH REPORT TABLED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE BOARD SAYS ONE WELCOME DEVELOPMENT IS THE SETTING UP OF A CHILDREN'S PROGRAMME ADVISORY COMMITTEE BY ONE TV STATION WITH THE AIM OF INQUIRING INTO WAYS TO IMPROVE PROGRAMMING IN THIS AREA.
THE BOARD SAYS IT IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE DISTORTION OF HISTORICAL FACTS AND PERSONALITIES IN SOME DRAMAS; THE DELIBERATE SCHEDULING BY ONE STATION TO CREATE A HEAD-ON CLASH BETWEEN TWO IDENTICAL PROGRAMMES OF HIGH ENTERTAINMENT VALUE PRODUCED SEPARATELY BY THE TWO STATIONS; THE EMOTIVE RING-SIDE COMMENTARIES IN SOME SPORTS PROGRAMMES AND THE ABRUPT DISCONTINUATION OF SEVERAL FOREIGN DRAMA SERIALS ON THE ENGLISH CHANNELS.
THE REPORT FINDS THAT LOCALLY-PRODUCED DRAMAS, MOST OF WHICH WERE ESCAPIST FARE, CONTINUED TO FORM THE LARGEST PART OF THE TELEVISION STATIONS' PROGRAMMING OUTPUT.
STATIONS ARE ADVISED NOT TO OVER-CONCENTRATE ON SUCH PROGRAMMES AND BE MINDFUL OF THE VALUE THAT COULD BE GAINED BY MORE SERIOUS DRAMAS WHICH EXPLORE CONTEMPORARY THEMES.
BUT THE REPORT IS NOT ALL GLOOM. IT ADDS THAT THE SUCCESS OF LOCAL TELEVISION MAY BE GAUGED FROM THE MANY AWARDS ACCORDED TO THEM AT VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS. TVB OBTAINED AN UNPRECEDENTED 14 PRIZES DURING THE 18-MONTH PERIOD UNDER REVIEW WHILE RTHK COLLECTED 10 AWARDS.
/THE REPORT