WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1986
BROADCASTING AUTHORITY TO BE ESTABLISHED
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A BILL WILL BE PUT BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SO THAT A BROADCASTING AUTHORITY CAN BE SET UP IN 1987, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ANNOUNCING THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION ON THE MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD'S REPORT IN THE COUNCIL, MR THOMAS SAID THE BRB'S PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A BROADCASTING AUTHORITY RECEIVED WARM SUPPORT FROM EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
+ THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS THAT THERE IS CONSIDERABLE MERIT IN ALLOWING GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CONTROL OVER THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY.
+ THE GOVERNMENT, THEREFORE, SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF A BROADCASTING AUTHORITY WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR TV, RADIO AND CABLE TV,+ HE SAID.
THE AUTHORITY'S FUNCTIONS WILL INCLUDE ADMINISTERING THE BROADCASTING REGIME AS LAID DOWN IN THE ORDINANCE, SECURING COMPLIANCE WITH THE PRESCRIBED STANDARDS FOR ADVERTISING AND PROGRAMME CONTENTS, AND ENSURING THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF BROADCASTS.
MR THOMAS SAID THE AUTHORITY WOULD BE MADE UP LARGELY FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND WOULD BE SERVICED BY THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY.
HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED TOO THE IDEA OF A TRIBUNAL TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND TO RESOLVE DISPUTES WITHIN THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY.
BUT IT CONSIDERED THAT IT WOULD BE ADMINISTRATIVELY MORE APPROPRIATE TO SET THIS UP WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY RATHER THAN AS A FREE-STANDING FORUM.
ON THE FUTURE OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, MR THOMAS SAID THERE WAS MUCH SUPPORT IN THE COUNCIL AND FROM THE PUBLIC FOR THE CONCEPT OF GREATER INDEPENDENCE FOR RTHK ALTHOUGH VIEWS WERE MIXED ON HOW THIS INDEPENDENCE COULD BE ACHIEVED.
+ THE GOVERNMENT IS UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN CANVASSED TO MAKE RTHK FINANCIALLY VIABLE IN ITS OWN RIGHT.
+THERE WAS LITTLE SUPPORT FOR THE BOARD'S PROPOSAL TO GIVE RTHK A MONOPOLY OVER PRIME TIME ON THE COMMERCIAL TV STATIONS.
/+NOR WOULD