XN000022-1979-01-12 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1979

NEW LICENCE FOR COMMERCIAL RADIO

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A NEW LICENCE IS TO BE ISSUED TO THE HONG KONG COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING CO., LTD. (COMMERCIAL RADIO) FOR A 10-YEAR PERIOD WITH EFFECT FROM AUGUST 26, 1979.

THE ORIGINAL LICENCE WAS GRANTED TO COMMERCIAL RADIO IN 1959 FOR A PERIOD OF 15 YEARS. IT WAS RENEWED IN 1974 FOR A FURTHER PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS.

MR. NIGEL WATT, COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING THE PROVISIONS OF THE LICENCE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT HE WELCOMED THIS DECISION.

HE SAID: +COMMERCIAL RADIO HAS A GOOD RECORD OF PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY OVER A PERIOD OF NEARLY 20 YEARS AND TOGETHER WITH THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, HAS GIVEN THE COMMUNITY A WELL-BALANCED CHOICE OF PROGRAMMES.+

HE ADDED: +1 AM SURE THE COMPANY WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE

A VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

THE AWARD TO COMMERCIAL RADIO OF A NEW 10-YEAR LICENCE UNTIL AUGUST 25, 1989 IS ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT GOVERNMENT MAY INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS AND NEW BROADCASTING CONTROLS DURING THE PERIOD OF LICENCE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS TO INTRODUCE SUCH COMPETITION.

GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT A DECISION IN RESPECT OF ANY FURTHER RADIO COMPETITION SHOULD BE DEFERRED UNTIL THE SITUATION IN COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING, PARTICULARLY IN TELEVISION, HAS BECOME CLEARER AND MORE FINANCIALLY SECURE.

RAD 10

HONG KONG IS AT PRESENT WELL SERVED WITH EIGHT CHANNELS OF FIVE PROVIDED BY RTHK AND THREE BY COMMERCIAL RADIO.

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