XN000022-1972-06-16 — Page 19

6.

Friday, June 16, 1972

subsidiary legislation and the three Codes of Practice.

To assist

me I have a Television Advisory Board, of which I am the Chairman,

comprising two public officers and two, soon to be three, members

of the public. The Television Advisory Board is responsible for

advising me in the exercise of my functions, submitting proposals

and recommendations to the Governor in Council with regard to

technical, programme and advertising standards and also with respect

to the renewal or revocation of licences. In addition the Board

conducts inquiries into any matters referred to it by the Governor in

Council, or by myself, and publishes reports on the progress of

television.

Television Secretariat

In addition to the Television Advisory Board I have within

the Information Services Department a small Television Secretariat

comprising a secretary and a team of monitors. The monitors are

responsible for viewing all programmes, in particular those programmes

which are transmitted live, with a view to ensuring that they comply

with the statutory requirements of the Ordinance and the Codes of

Practice. Daily reports from the monitors are circulated to members of the Television Advisory Board and any infringements are brought

to the attention of the company. All filmed material to be shown

on television is subject to censorship by the Panel of Film Censors.

I don't know whether any of you here are familiar with the Codes of Practice published by me under the Television Ordinance. There are in fact three codes, the first covering programme standards,

the second dealing with advertising standards and the last technical

standards. The technical standards do not, I think, concern the

man in the street but the other two codes do. Wherever television

has been established it has exerted a very powerful influence on the

community. In Hong Kong as a medium for entertainment, information

and education it reaches a great number of persons of all ages in the

privacy of their homes. Great care must therefore be exercised in the

selection of programmes by the television stations and to assist them

we have laid down certain rules as broad guidelines.

.

There are fairly comprehensive rules about violence, especially as it relates to children and young people. Conflict is a major element in drama but violence for its own sake is not permitted simply because it attracts or secures the attention of certain types of audiences. There are also rules relating to religious rites, marriage, drug addiction

to mention only a few.

The advertising...