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TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1988
EXCO APPROVES RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING
TV BROADCASTING LICENCES
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THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TODAY (TUESDAY) APPROVED RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO THE REVOCATION AND SUSPENSION OF TELEVISION BROADCASTING LICENCES, AND ROYALTY PAYMENTS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENTS OF LICENSEE COMPANIES.
THE DECISIONS WERE MADE FOLLOWING EARLIER APPROVAL BY EXCO ON OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE RENEWAL OF TELEVISION BROADCASTING LICENCES.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MISS ELAINE CHUNG.
SHE SAID THE EXCO HAD ACCEPTED THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY THAT WHEN THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAD TAKEN A DECISION TO REVOKE THE LICENCE OF A LICENSEE COMPANY UNDER THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE, A PERIOD OF NOTICE OF NOT LESS THAN 60 DAYS SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE LICENSEE COMPANY.
AT PRESENT THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE PROVIDES THAT WHERE THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL CONSIDERS THAT THERE MAY BE CAUSE FOR REVOKING A LICENCE, HE MAY ORDER THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY AND SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE REVOCATION OF THE LICENCE.
IN
AFTER CONSIDERING SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS, THE GOVERNOR COUNCIL MAY REVOKE THE LICENCE AND THE REVOCATION WILL. TAKE EFFECT SUBJECT TO A PERIOD OF NOTICE OF 18 MONTHS.
"IN RECOMMENDING THE DELETION OF THE PROVISION OF 18 MONTHS NOTICE FOR THE REVOCATION OF A LICENCE, THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY WAS OF THE VIEW THAT THIS PROVISION ALLOWS TOO LONG A PERIOD FOR A LICENSEE TO CONTINUE TO BROADCAST AFTER THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS DECIDED THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT CAUSE TO REVOKE THE LICENCE.
"ON THE OTHER HAND, IT WOULD BE UNREASONABLE NOT NOTICE AT ALL TO THE LICENSEE, MISS CHUNG EXPLAINED.
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GIVE ANY
THE PROPOSAL TO EMPOWER THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND A LICENCE FOR A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF ONE MONTH WAS ACCEPTED BY THE EXCO.
FOR
AT PRESENT, THE POWER TO SUSPEND A LICENCE IS NOT PROVIDED IN THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENT BY A LICENSEE COMPANY MAY BE SANCTIONED BY FINANCIAL PENALTIES.
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"BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF A DECISION ΤΟ SUSPEND, IT SHOULD ONLY BE MADE AFTER THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY HAS CONDUCTED PROCEDURE SIMILAR TO THAT APPLICABLE TO REVOCATION,
/"THE PERIOD