-
12
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988 ́
NOTING THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUPS'S CONCERN THAT THE PROVISION MIGHT BE UNDULY RESTRICTIVE ON A LICENSEE, MR TSAO SAID "THE DOOR NOT FOREVER CLOSED IN THIS RESPECT".
IS
OTHER THEN
"IF, IN THE FUTURE, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCH PARTICIPATION ARISES, AND A LICENSEE CAN MAKE A CASE THAT PARTICIPATION IN COMPANIES WOULD BENEFIT TELEVISION BROADCASTING IN HONG KONG, THE ISSUE MAY BE RECONSIDERED BY THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY AND THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE LEGISLATION MAY BE REVIEWED,' HE SAID.
EXPLAINING THE ESSENCE OF THE BILL, MR TSAO SAID IT DEALT WITH OWNERSHIP, CONTROL OF LICENSEE'S COMPANIES, THE PROHIBITION ON LICENSEES BEING HELD BY HOLDING COMPANIES AND CONTROLS ON INTERESTS LICENSEES MIGHT HAVE IN OTHER COMPANIES, AND THE CALCULATION OF ROYALTY.
IT SOUGHT TO AMEND AND ADD TO THE EXISTING PROVISIONS AND INCLUDE MORE DETAILED MACHANISMS TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW LEGISLATION WOULD BE EFFECTIVE AND MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE EXISTING LEGISLATION,
MR TSAO SAID IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT LEGISLATION BE ENACTED TO PROVIDE THE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK FOR THE IMPOSITION OF SOME OF THE NEW CONDITIONS ATTACHING TO THE NEW TELEVISION LICENCES, WHICH WOULD BK EFFECTIVE FROM DECEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.
THANKING MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC GROUP FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS, MR TSAO SAID HE AGREED THAT THE STANDARD OF TELEVISION BROADCASTING MUST BE MAINTAINED AND IMPROVED.
"IT IS, OF COURSE, NOT APPROPRIATE TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS RELATING то THE NEW LEGISLATION, HE SAID.
DEAL WITH ALL OF THE LICENCES BY MEANS OF
"WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THE CODES OF PRACTICE ON PROGRAMME, ADVERTISING AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS.
"IN ADDITION, SOME OF THE MORE DETAILED PROGRAMMES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS WILL BE INCLUDED AS CONDITIONS IN THE NEW LICENCES.
#
REFERRING TO THE TECHNICAL NATURE OF THE LEGISLATION, MR TSAO SAID IT SHOULD NOT UNDULY CONCERN THE SMALL SHAREHOLDER OR SMALL INVESTOR, BECAUSE IT AFFECTED PRIMARILY THOSE NON-LOCAL SHAREHOLDERS WITH LARGE SHAREHOLDINGS IN A LICENSEE'S COMPANY, WHO WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO EXPERT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.
LATER, IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE, MR TSAO MOVED AMENDMENTS TO CLAUSES 1, 2, 5, 11, 12, 14 AND 20.
/ON CLAUSE