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The second principle is to safeguard freedom of expression and information. In this regard, we have abolished precensorship and have laid down clear rules guarding against extensive cross-media ownership which may lead to monopolies, as well as against excessive foreign control of any local broadcasting stations (as supposed to regional or global ones) through foreign ownership restrictions.
The third principle is to protect viewers' interests. This is achieved partly by the first principle whereby the diversity obtained will ensure that viewers are offered the widest possible choice of programmes through as many different broadcasters as the market can sustain, and partly through requirements of the broadcasters to observe strict codes of practice relating to technical quality, programme contents and customer services issued by the Broadcasting Authorities from time to time as part of the regulatory framework.
As a result of the broadcasting regulatory environment set up basing on the above principles, the Hong Kong broadcasting industry has undergone rapid and significant development and growth in the last 5 years. In 1990, we had only 2 terrestrial TV stations broadcasting 4 free-to-air channels. Now we have a total of 28 TV channels available to the Hong Kong viewers. These include 4 terrestrial free-to- air channels, 4 free-to-air satellite channels and 20 subscription channels. All these broadcasters have their licences...well beyond 1997 and these licences have been fully endorsed by the Chinese. So we do have the Chinese acknowledging our licensing and environment and framework. In addition, we have 6 foreign and local broadcasters using Hong Kong as a base to uplink their TV services to the Asia Pacific region through satellites serving the region. We also have two highly reputable international broadcasters, namely CNN and CNBC, have also chosen to set up their production centres in Hong Kong. This rapid development and growth of the broadcasting industry in Hong Kong in the short space of 5 years is a clear testament to the soundness of our broadcasting policy, and the attractiveness of our broadcasting regulatory environment. If our broadcasting regulatory environment is not well defined, clear, open and fair, we would not be able to attract so many local and foreign broadcasters to establish their broadcasting services in Hong Kong. The fact that so many of them are now established in Hong Kong is a clear indication that we have already become a broadcasting centre in Asia.
I would like to say at this point that the Broadcasting Authority has played a very active and constructive role in helping to set up this attractive regulatory environment. I wish to thank the Broadcasting Authority for its contribution in both advising the Administration on policy and in regulating the broadcasting industry. I would like to point out that the Broadcasting Authority has both the common sense and the technical know how and expertise to deal with all technical matters because the Director of the Office of the Telecommunication Authority is a member of the Broadcasting Authority and the whole of the Telecommunication Authority and its expertise is behind the Broadcasting Authority in giving advice.