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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1993
"THE CONSIDERATION IS MORE THAN THE NOMINAL AMOUNT OF THE $4 BILLION WE INJECTED IN 1985", THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID,
"HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT AMOUNT TO A PROFIT IN REAL TERMS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE COST OF OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
"WE DID NOT IN ANY CASE EXPECT TO MAKE A PROFIT OUT OF THE RESCUE EXERCISE, HE ADDED.
"
THE GOVERNMENT RESCUED OTB IN JUNE 1985 USING THE EXCHANGE FUND IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY OF THE BANKING SECTOR AND THE EXCHANGE RATE OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR.
CODE OF PRACTICE FOR SUBSCRIPTION TV ENDORSED
THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY ENDORSED A CODE OF PRACTICE ON CUSTOMER SERVICE DRAWN UP BY WHARF CABLE LTD IN PREPARATION FOR THE LAUNCH OF ITS SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SERVICE AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
THE CODE OF PRACTICE, WHICH WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC, WILL ENSURE THAT REQUESTS FOR THE SERVICE AND ANY MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE DEALT WITH PROMPTLY BY THE LICENSEE.
THE AUTHORITY FEELS STRONGLY THAT CONSUMERS' INTERESTS SHOULD BE SAFEGUARDED, PARTICULARLY IN THE SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION BUSINESS WHERE THE LICENSEE WILL HAVE MANY DEALINGS DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC.
IN APPROVING THE CODE THE BA DECIDED TO REVIEW IT AFTER SIX MONTHS IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE.
THE AUTHORITY ALSO CONSIDERED SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT TELEVISION PROGRAMMES, AMONG THEM THE TELEVISION PROGRAMME "HONG KONG CRIMINAL ARCHIVES II", SHOWN ON ATV HOME BETWEEN 7 PM AND 7.55 PM.
THE AUTHORITY RECOGNISED THAT THE SERIES CONTAINED DRAMATISED RECONSTRUCTIONS OF REAL-LIFE EVENTS THAT COULD BE REGARDED AS FACTUAL AND INFORMATIVE.
NEVERTHELESS,
THE AUTHORITY FELT THAT THE SERIES, UNLIKE MANY OTHER CONVENTIONAL DOCUMENTARIES SHOWN AT DIFFERENT TIMES, WAS, AS A WHOLE, NOT SUITABLE FOR BROADCAST DURING FAMILY VIEWING HOURS BECAUSE THE SUBJECT MATTER REVOLVED AROUND NOTORIOUS MURDER CASES AND INVOLVED THE DEPICTION OF VIOLENCE AND MURDER.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AUTHORITY SAID THE AUTHORITY FELT STRONGLY THAT THE FAMILY VIEWING HOUR POLICY SHOULD BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO.
"MATERIAL BROADCAST IN FAMILY VIEWING HOURS SHOULD NOT BE UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN OR REQUIRE ANY PARENTAL GUIDANCE,' HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID SOME SCENES SHOWING THE RAPE AND MURDER OF A YOUNG COUPLE AND THE TORTURING OF A WOMAN WITH ELECTRIC SHOCKS WERK CONSIDERED TO BR PARTICULARLY OBJECTIONABLE AND WHOLLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR BROADCAST IN THE EARLY EVENING.
/AFTER CAREFUL