WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1987
32
TENDERS FOR CABLE TV TO BE CALLED NEXT YEAR
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THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO INVITE TENDERS POR A CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE IN THE SECOND HALF OF NEXT YEAR, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TOLD THE LELGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID A CABLE TELEVISION NETWORK COULD BR USED FOR A WIDE RANGE OF TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES IN ADDITION то THE TRANSMISSION OF TELEVISION PROGRAMMES.
"THE POSSIBILITY OF ITS INTRODUCTION HAS THEREFORE RAISED THE MORE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION OF WHETHER HONG KONG'S COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS CAN ADEQUATELY BE MET IN THE NEXT DECADES BY THE EXISTING SINGLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, OR WHETHER A BRCOND NETWORK SHOULD BE ALLOWED," SIR DAVID SAID.
HE ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS A HIGHLY COMPLEX AND TECHNICAL ISSUE. "FOR THE SAKE OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE AS A CENTRE OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS WE MUST GET THE ANSWER RIGHT, HE SAID.
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THE GOVERNMENT HAD THEREFORE DECIDED TO COMMISSION OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS ΤΟ STUDY AND REPORT ON THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF INTRODUCING A SECOND DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.
"THE CONSULTANTS ARE DUE TO REPORT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. THEREAFTER, WE EXPECT TO BE IN A POSITION TO INVITE TENDERS FOR A CABLE TELEVISION IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1988,' HE ADDED.
SIR DAVID ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED DECISIONS ON A NUMBER OF THE MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS ARISING FROM THE REPORT OF THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD LAST YEAR AND SINCE THEN, CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN IMPLEMENTING THEM.
HE SAID A BROADCASTING AUTHORITY, WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR WIRELESS TELEVISION, WAS ESTABLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 1.
ITS MEMBERS HAD BEEN DRAWN FROM DIVERSE SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AND SHOULD BE GENUINELY REPRESENTATIVE OF ITS INTERESTS.
"BY DRAWING UP CODES OF PRACTICE THE AUTHORITY WILL HELP то ENSURE THAT TELEVISION PROGRAMMES PROVIDED IN FUTURE WILL REFLECT MORE ACCURATELY THE TASTES AND STANDARDS OF THEIR AUDIENCES, HE ADDED.
SIR DAVID ALSO SAID THE AUTHORITY'S REGULATORY FUNCTIONS WOULD LATER BE EXTENDED TO COVER RADIO BROADCASTING AND CABLE TELEVISION,
ON RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO BRING LEGISLATION BEFORE THE COUNCIL NEXT YEAR TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS.
"IN THE MEANTIME THE NEW FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS REQUIRED BY THE CHANGED, STATUS EXAMINED AND DEVELOPED," HE ADDED.
AND ADMINISTRATIVE OF RTHK ARE BEING
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