XN000022-1977-08-10 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1977

MONITORING TELEVISION STANDARDS

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THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR INSTANCES IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS WHERE PREVIEWING OF TELEVISION PROGRAMMES WAS FELT NECESSARY AND TWO OF THESE CONCERNED VIOLENT SCENES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION RAISED BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN.

THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE REQUIRES A LICENSEE TO CONFORM WITH THE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY A CODE OF PRACTICE GOVERNING PROGRAMME STANDARDS. THIS CODE INCLUDES PROVISION AGAINST EXCESSIVE VIOLENCE, MR. LI POINTED OUT.

WHERE IT APPEARS THAT A LICENSEE HAS MISINTERPRETED OR HAS NOT FOLLOWED THE PROVISIONS IN THE CODE, THEN THE TELEVISION AUTHORITY TAKES THE NECESSARY STEPS TO PREVIEW FURTHER MATERIAL IN THE SAME SERIES, HE EXPLAINED.

WITH THE INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF LOCALLY-PRODUCED PROGRAMMES MATERIAL OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THE INCREASING SOPHISTICATION AND COMPLEXITY OF THIS MATERIAL, THERE IS AN INCREASING NEED FOR MORE GUIDANCE FROM THE TELEVISION AUTHORITY TO THE TELEVISION COMPANIES RELATING TO PROGRAMME STANDARDS,

+ THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING HA RECENTLY REVIEWED HIS STAFF RESOURCES AND HAS COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT HIS ESTABLISHMENT OF SIX TELEVISION STANDARDS CONTROL OFFICERS NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED AND HE IS PREPARING A SUBMISSION TO GOVERNMENT ACCORDINGLY, HE REVEALED.

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