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WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1994
POOR RECEPTION DUE TO PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
ANY
LOCALISED PROBLEMS OF RECEPTION CAUSED BY THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT FALL OUTSIDE THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE TWO COMMERCIAL TELEVISION STATIONS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON TAM YIU CHUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR SO SAID UNDER EXISTING LAW AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR LICENSING CONDITIONS, THE TWO STATIONS HAD FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATIONS BY PROVIDING THE TERRITORY-WIDE NETWORK.
"POOR RECEPTION IN THE AREA IN QUESTION IS THE RESULT OF
RAPID HIGH-RISE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES CREATING ARTIFICIAL OBSTABLES TO THE UHF SIGNALS," MR 90 EXPLAINED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SOLUTION TO PROVIDING BETTER RECEPTION TO SUCH SHADOW AREAS WAS TO PROVIDE LOCALISED MICROWAVE OR CABLE RELAY SYSTEMS, BUT THE TWO COMMERCIAL TELEVISION STATIONS WERE NOT LICENSED TO PROVIDE THEM.
"THESE SYSTEMS ARE AND CAN BE PROVIDED BY PRIVATE OPERATORS, OFTEN AT EXTRA COST TO SUBSCRIBERS, OR BY GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE," HE SAID.
THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY WOULD HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH SUCH OPERATORS TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE THE RECEPTION PROBLEM IN THE TSUEN WAN AREA, AND COULD OFFER ADVICE TO GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS UPON REQUEST, MR SO SAID.
"IN THE LONGER TERM RECEPTION IN ALL SHADOW AREAS WILL BE IMPROVED BY EXTENSION OF WHARF CABLE'S SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION NETWORK, THOUGH THIS WILL BENEFIT ONLY SUBSCRIBERS," HE ADDED.
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HOSPITAL FUND-RAISING CONCERT FOSTERS CLOSER COMMUNITY LINK * * * * *
THE FUND-RAISING CONCERT BY THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL IS IN WITH THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY'S MISSION TO FOSTER A CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND IS IN KEEPING WITH THE TRADITION ESTABLISHED BY MANY FORMER SUBVENTED HOSPITALS.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON TANG SIU-TONG, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID THE CONCERT WAS ORGANISED BY FRIENDS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL AS THE CLIMAX OF ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOSPITAL.
/SHE SAID