XN000022-1973-10-19 — Page 12

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Friday, October 19, 1973

SECURITY CLOSED CIRCUIT TV SYSTEMS TO BE EXEMPT FROM LICENSING

A Bill to amend the Telecommunication Ordinance is published in

the gazette today for public information.

The Bill will be tabled in the Legislative Council shortly and,

if passed, will enable closed circuit television systems which are operated

by persons for internal information or security purposes within their own

premises to be owned and operated without a licence.

It will also provide exemption from licensing for persons operating

such systems for private entertainment purposes in their own homes. None

of these unlicensed systems will be permitted to carry paid commercial

advertising.

Commenting on the Bill, the Television Authority, Mr. Nigel Watt,

said today the amending legislation was needed because of the impending

expiry on October 31 of the present monopoly wired television franchise

which provides the legal framework for all existing closed circuit television

installations in Hong Kong.

"If the amending Bill is passed into law it is intended that

regulations will be made to provide for the licensing of closed circuit

television systems which extend beyond individual premises

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for example

a stock exchange information system or a security system linking up various

offices in separate buildings.

"These larger licensed systems", Mr. Watt added, "will also be

limited to an information or security use and will not be permitted to

carry any entertainment material or any paid advertising.

"However