2
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1993
ACCORDINGLY, SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL, FEBRUARY
IT IS OUR PLAN TO INTRODUCE INTO THIS COUNCIL, SOME TIME IN THIS YEAR, DRAFT LEGISLATION WHICH SEEK TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS. TO FACILITATE MEMBERS' CONSIDERATION, WE WILL PUBLISH, IN PARALLEL WITH OR JUST BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BILLS, WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR. MEMBERS WILL THEN BE ABLE TO SCRUTINIZE THE PROPOSALS IN DETAIL, ALONG WITH THE RANGE OF ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS WHICH HAVE EMERGED FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS OR SO. THE BILLS, LIKE ANY OTHER BILLS, WILL BE OPEN TO AMENDMENTS BY MEMBERS. ULTIMATELY, THEREFORE, IT WILL BE THIS COUNCIL WHO WILL DECIDE ON THE FINAL SHAPE OF THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994-95. I HAVE EVERY FAITH THAT MEMBERS WILL TAKE INTO FULL ACCOUNT WISHES OF THE PUBLIC, AND ARRIVE AT A FINAL PACKAGE WHICH CAN COMMAND THEIR CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT.
FOR THESE REASONS, THE THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS WILL VOTE AGAINST MR. WONG'S MOTION,
0
—
BILL PROVIDES FOR INTRODUCTION OF PAY TV
* * * * *
THE TELEVISION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 TABLED IN THE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY} PROVIDES FOR SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION IN HONG KONG.
LEGISLATIVE
OF
THE INTRODUCTION
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, SAID ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BILL WAS TO ENSHRINE A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK IN LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD ENABLE EXISTING AND NEW TELEVISION SERVICES ΤΟ CO-EXIST AND COMPETE IN A HEALTHY AND EQUITABLE MANNER.
IT ALSO SEEKS TO AMEND THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE GENERAL REGULATORY PARAMETERS FOR SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION.
IT ALSO SETS OUT THE TERMS ON WHICH SUBSCRIPTION BROADCASTING LICENCES MAY BE GRANTED.
ΤΟ PROVIDE
TELEVISION
WILL BIND SERVICE IT
THESE TERMS WILL INCLUDE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS WHICH
THE THE LICENSEE TO DELIVER
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE HAS PROMISED, BUT WHICH, AT THE SAME
TIME, WILL GUARD AGAINST TOO
MUCH RIGIDITY SO THAT IT CANNOT RESPOND PROMPTLY TO MARKET FEEDBACK.
TELEVISION
"THE BILL THEREFORE PROVIDES THE FIRST SUBSCRIPTION OPERATOR AN EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO PROVIDE A SUBSCRIPTION BROADCASTING SERVICE FOR THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF LICENCE," MR SO SAID.
THE LICENSEE, HOWEVER, IS то BE REQUIRED ΤΟ BROADCAST
SUBSCRIPTION
TELEVISION PROGRAMMES
DURING THIS EXCLUSIVITY PERIOD.
SUPPLIED TO IT BY HUTCHVISION
FOR
THE DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS FOR THIS WILL NEED TO BE NEGOTIATED BY THE TWO PARTIES. IF THEY FAIL TO DO THIS, THERE IS PROVISION DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL, HE SAID.
/TO FACILITATE