WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1993
9
EVENTFUL YEAR FOR BROADCASTING AUTHORITY
THE BROADCASTING
OF
AUTHORITY HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN PURSUIT OF ITS POLICY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY BROADCASTING SERVICES FOR HONG KONG AUDIENCE.
IT WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF AN EQUITABLE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK SO AS TO ENSURE FAIR AND HEALTHY COMPETITION AMONG EXISTING AND FUTURE BROADCASTERS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, WHEN TABLING THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING AUGUST 1992 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR SO NOTED THAT DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY OF HONG KONG WENT THROUGH SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS.
HE SAID A COMPREHENSIVE TELEVISION BROADCASTING REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED AND THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR free-to-AIR WIRELESS AND SATELLITE TELEVISION WAS ALSO REVIEWED TO ENABLE THESE MEDIA TO COPE WITH THE CHANGING BROADCASTING ENVIRONMENT BROUGHT ABOUT BY NEW TECHNOLOGY AND MORE COMPETITION.
IN ADDITION, THE LEGISLATION ON SUBSCRIPTION
ENACTED IN MARCH THIS YEAR.
TELEVISION WAS
"WE ARE NOW READY TO ISSUE A SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION LICENCE AND WE EXPECT TO SEE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE BY OCTOBER THIS YEAR, HE ADDED.
TELEVISION
CODES OF FOR BOTH STANDARDS
A WORKING GROUP HAS ALSO BEEN SET UP TO REVIEW THE PRACTICE ON PROGRAMME, ADVERTISING AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS TELEVISION AND RADIO BROADCASTS SO AS TO ENSURE THESE REFLECT CHANGING SOCIAL NEEDS AND ATTITUDES AND FAST DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY.
MAJOR REVISIONS TO THE CODES ENDORSED BY THE AUTHORITY INCLUDED GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN THE SHOWING OF FEATURE FILMS, REPEATS OF CHILDREN PROGRAMMES, AND ADVERTISING FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, PROPERTY, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLICATIONS.
FURTHERMORE A NEW SET OF STANDARDS ON PROGRAMME SPONSORSHIP FOR WIRELESS TELEVISION AND A NEW CODE OF PRACTICE ON TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR SOUND BROADCASTING WERE DRAWN UP.
ON THE REGULATION OF THE QUALITY OF SERVICES PROVIDED, MR SO TOLD COUNCILLORS THAT THE AUTHORITY'S COMPLAINTS COMMITTER HAD DURING THE YEAR DEALT WITH 648 COMPLAINTS AND ISSUED 21 WARNING LETTERS TO REMIND BROADCASTERS OF THE NEED TO OBSERVE MORE CLOSELY THE DIFFERENT CODES OF PRACTICE.
IT HAD ALSO FINED LICENSEES ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH FINES RANGING FROM $10,000 TO $50,000.
LOOKING AHEAD, MR SO SAID THE AUTHORITY WOULD BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE REGULATION OF THE SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SERVICE WHEN IT WAS INTRODUCED, IN THE RADIO BROADCASTING REVIEW NOW UNDER WAY AND IN THE PREPARATION OF AN OMNIBUS BROADCASTING BILL.
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