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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1992
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THERE WILL BE ONE LICENCE COVERING THE WHOLE TERRITORY;
THE LICENSEE WILL ENJOY AN EXCLUSIVITY PERIOD OF THREE YEARS DURING WHICH TIME NO ADDITIONAL LICENCES WILL BE ISSUED;
A MORATORIUM ON ADVERTISING WILL BE IMPOSED ON THE LICENSEE DURING THE THREE-YEAR EXCLUSIVITY PERIOD;
THE MARKET SHOULD BE OPEN TO COMPETITION AFTER THE EXPIRY OF THE THREE-YEAR EXCLUSIVITY PERIOD;
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ADOPT A FLEXIBLE APPROACH AND LEAVE IT TO THE MARKET TO DECIDE THE FORM SUBSCRIPTION TV SHOULD TAKE, INCLUDING DELIVERY TECHNOLOGY, GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE, PROGRAMMING AND SUBSCRIPTION RATES AND SO ON.
FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION WILL HOWEVER BE GIVEN TO COMPANIES THAT INDICATE AN EXPRESS INTENTION TO INTRODUCE CABLE-BASED SERVICES IN VIEW OF CABLE'S ADVANTAGE OF OFFERING BETTER QUALITY TRANSMISSION AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING ANCILLARY INTERACTIVE SERVICES;
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT ON THE SUBSCRIPTION TV LICENSEE TO ALSO PROVIDE A SECOND TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.
THE LICENSEE WOULD HOWEVER BE ALLOWED ΤΟ APPLY ΤΟ THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT'S TELECOMS POLICY FOR APPROVAL TO PROVIDE TELECOMS SERVICE OVER HIS NETWORK; AND
NO COMPANY OF WHICH CABLE AND WIRELESS PLC AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES OWNS MORE THAN 15 PER CENT OF THE SHARE CAPITAL SHALL BE PERMITTED TO TENDER FOR THE LICENCE.
OTHER THAN THIS, NO RESTRICTION WILL BE APPLIED IN RELATION TO THE OWNERSHIP OF LOCAL CAMPANIES WISHING TO TENDER.
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS FURTHER DECIDED THAT STAR TV SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CHARGE SUBSCRIPTION ON ANY NEW REGIONAL BASED SATELLITE CHANNELS INTRODUCED IN ADDITION TO ITS EXISTING FREE-TO-AIR SERVICE, ON THE CONDITIONS THAT:
TV,
THIS SATELLITE-BASED SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE CANNOT BE LAUNCHED BEFORE OCTOBER 1993; AND
NO PROGRAMMES IN THE CANTONESE LANGUAGE WILL BE PERMITTED ON THIS NEW SERVICE DURING THE THREE-YEAR EXCLUSIVITY PERIOD OF THE HONG KONG SUBSCRIPTION TV LICENSEE.
CONCERNING CANTONESE LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING RESTRICTIONS ON STAR MR SO SAID THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD APRROVED THE LIFTING OF THE RESTRICTION ON THREE OF STAR'S EXISTING FREE-TO-AIR CHANNELS WITH EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 1993.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAD DECIDED THAT THEY SHOULD BE THE NEWS, SPORTS AND MUSIC CHANNELS.
/A REVIEW