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A spokesman for the Broadcasting, Culture and Sport Branch said today (Wednesday): "The renewed licence reflects the recommendations made by the Broadcasting Authority in the context of the mid-term review of Commercial Radio's licence. Amongst other things, a new clause on free competition and a new requirement for full cost-recovery licence fees to be paid are included.
"The free competition clause aims at facilitating free competition by prohibiting the licensee from entering into any arrangement or agreement which will have the effect of restricting competition by other persons in relation to the establishment or operation of a broadcasting or telecommunications service."
In line with the Government's general charging policy, Commercial Radio will have to pay full cost-recovery licence fee later this year when Metro Broadcast is also required to do so. The assessed full cost for administering Commercial Radio's licence in 1997/98 is around $3.4 million.
To alleviate the effect of an immediate introduction, the full cost fee will be phased in over five years. In other words, for the first twelve months after introduction of the fee, Commercial Radio will only have to pay 20% of the full cost, i.e. around $0.68 million.
The amended licence of Commercial Radio will run from April 25, 1997 until it expires on August 25, 2001.
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Local farmers learn more about premium vegetable production
Local farmers are expected to learn more about the cultivation of premium vegetables in a technical seminar held at Tai Lung Experimental Station in Sheung Shui today (Wednesday).
The seminar on "Premium Vegetable Production" focused on squash, a newly introduced exotic species suitable for local production.
An agricultural officer of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) Ms Wendy Ko pointed out that squash was a vegetable with high nutrition and would become a popular choice for healthy diets.