XN000022-1980-05-14 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1980

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BETTER TV VIEWING ******

THE TELEVISION ADVISORY BOARD HAS MADE RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT RAISING THE STANDARD, QUALITY AND CONTROL OF TELEVISION BROADCASTING IN HONG KONG, SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION, THE HON DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.

PRESENTING THE SEVENTH REPORT OF THE BOARD FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1978 TO DECEMBER 1979, MR FORD POINTED OUT THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FELL MAINLY IN TWO AREAS:

*

THOSE RELATED TO DEFICIENCIES AND PROBLEM AREAS IN TELEVISION PROGRAMMING WHICH COULD BE REMEDIED BY AMENDMENTS TO THE CODES OF PRACTICE, AND

* THOSE CONCERNED WITH THE SHAREHOLDINGS OF THE

COMPANIES AND CONDITIONS OF LICENCES, WHICH IF APPROVED, WOULD REQUIRE AMENDMENTS TO THE TELEVISIÓN ORDINANCE ITSELF.

ON PROGRAMME STANDARDS, MR FORD SAID THAT AS INDICATED BY A RECENT SURVEY, THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF VIOLENCE AND THE USE OF BAD LANGUAGE ON TELEVISION,

CONTROLS ALREADY EXIST UNDER THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE AND IN THE CODES OF PRACTICE WHICH ENABLE THE TELEVISION AUTHORITY TO ACT AS A WATCHDOG ON ANY BREACHES OF PROGRAMME STANDARDS, HE POINTED OUT.

BUT, HE SAID, THE TELEVISION ADVISORY BOARD TOOK THE VIEW THAT A MORE DETERMINED EFFORT WAS NEEDED ON THE PART OF THE LICENSEES TO CONTROL THEIR OWN PROGRAMMES.

IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, HE SAID, TO WRITE INTO THE CODES OF PRACTICE GUIDELINES GOVERNING EVERY SITUATION.

+ IN ANY CASE A COMPANY LICENSED TO BROADCAST TELEVISION PROGRAMMES HAS A CLEAR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT HIGH STANDARDS ARE MAINTAINED AND IN RECOGNITION OF THIS THE BOARD RECOMMENDED THAT THE STATIONS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO LAY DOWN GUIDELINES FOR THEIR OWN STAFF SPELLING OUT THE IR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE PUBLIC,+ MR FORD SAID.

HE ADDED THAT IN CASES WHERE, IN SPITE OF THIS, COMPANIES CONTINUE TO BREACH STANDARDS THE BOARD HAD RECOMMENDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE GREATER READINESS ON GOVERNMENT'S PART TO IMPOSE FINANCIAL PENALTIES UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

/OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS