4.
Passage of TV (Amendment) Bill welcomed
The Secretary for Broadcasting, Culture and Sport, Mr Chau Tak-hay, welcomed the passage of the Television (Amendment) Bill 1996 by the Legislative Council today (Wednesday).
He said: "Video-on-demand offers the potential for a wide range of innovative multimedia services, including new ways of delivering television programmes to the home.
"The licensing framework we have now put in place provides certainty to investors, as well as the assurance to viewers that the content of programme services will be properly regulated."
Mr Chau said that his Branch was now working towards putting the detailed regulations in place and inviting applications for licences within the next few months.
The Government had in mind to issue two licences, he said, but the Executive Council would consider all applications on their merits.
Provisions to regulate advertising were also being prepared, which would enable Wharf Cable to carry advertising within the next few months, he added.
End
Second reading debate of TV (Amendment) Bill 1996
The following is a speech by the Secretary for Broadcasting, Culture and Sport, Mr Chau Tak-hay, for resumption of the second reading debate for the Television (Amendment) Bill 1996 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I should like to begin by thanking Members of the Committee for their careful scrutiny of this Bill.