WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1986
31
DECISIONS MADE ON BRB REPORT
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DECISIONS WHICH WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S DELIBERATION OF THE PACKAGE OF SOME 100 RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD.
THE MAJOR POLICIES WHICH ARE TO FORM THE BACKBONE OF NEW GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES ON THE ORGANISATION AND REGULATION OF BROADCASTING FOR DECADES TO COME INVOLVE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BROADCASTING AUTHORITY WITH RESPONSIBILITY OVER TELEVISION, RADIO AND CABLE TV LICENCE EXTENSION FOR A 12-YEAR TERM FOR THE EXISTING TWO TELEVISION LICENSEES AND THE RETENTION OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG WITHIN THE PUBLIC SERVICE BUT AS AN EXECUTIVE ARM OF A BOARD OF GOVERNORS.
DECISIONS ON OTHER MORE CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSALS BY THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD (BRB) INCLUDE FURTHER RESTRICTIONS TO BE PLACED ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP ON TELEVISION AND RADIO; THE REJECTION OF THE BRB'S RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING THE CORPORATE STRUCTURE OF THE BROADCASTING LICENSEES; AND THE NEW METHOD OF PAYMENT OF ROYALTIES TO BE BASED ON TURNOVER.
EXPLAINING THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE DECISIONS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR JAMES SO, POINTED OUT THAT THEY WERE MADE AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD DURING THE EXTENDED CONSULTATION PERIOD WHICH ENDED IN FEBRUARY.
+EVERY SINGLE DECISION WAS TAKEN WITH THE LONG-TERM NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IN MIND. IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP A PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY WHEN FORMULATING THESE POLICIES WHICH WILL SERVE THE PUBLIC FOR THE YEARS AHEAD, + HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL'S DECISIONS ON THE MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD ARE SUMMARISED THUS:
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THE EXISTING PATTERN OF TWO TELEVISION LICENCES EACH OPERATING ONE CHINESE AND ONE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SERVICE SHOULD CONTINUE.
TO ENABLE MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL TO BE EXERCISED OVER THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BROADCASTING LICENSEES AND TO ALLOW FOR GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE REGULATION OF THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY, A BROADCASTING AUTHORITY WILL BE CREATED WITH RESPONSIBILITY OVER TELEVISION, RADIO AND CABLE TELEVISION.
ITS FUNCTIONS WILL INCLUDE ADMINISTERING THE PROVISIONS OF THE FUTURE BROADCASTING ORDINANCE AND SECURING PROPER STANDARDS OF BROADCASTING WITH REGARD TO PROGRAMME CONTENT AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF BROADCASTS.
/THE AUTHORITY