XN000022-1981-06-18 — Page 5

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1981

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE EVENT. TO ASSIST THE PRESS, A BRIEFING WILL BE GIVEN AT 9.30 AM, TV AND RADIO STATIONS SHOULD SET UP THE IR EQUIPMENT BEFORE 9.30 AM.

NO STATEMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED DURING THE WEEK-LONG MEETING. THE COMMISSIONER OF TRADE, MR PETER TSAO, WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS ON HONG KONG'S VIEWS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN THE GIS THEATRE, BEACONSF IELD HOUSE (5/FL) ON FRIDAY JUNE 26 AT 6.00 PM. HE WILL NOT MAKE A FORMAL STATEMENT.

HONG KONG TV AMONG BEST IN WORLD'

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HONG KONG HAS ONE OF THE BEST TELEVISION SERVICES IN THE WORLD, BROUGHT ABOUT BY HEALTHY COMPETITION, THE GOODWILL AND EXPERTISE OF THE TELEVISION STATIONS, AND THE PERSISTENT APPLICATION OF THE TELEVISION STANDARDS CONTROL LAWS, SAID THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING,

MR N. J.V. WATT, AT THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON LUNCHEON MEETING TODAY (THURSDAY).

IT WAS HIS JOB TO SEE THAT THESE CONTROLS CONTINUE TO BE VIGOROUSLY MAINTAINED IN THE FUTURE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC, HE SAID.

FOR CONTROL, IT WAS NECESSARY FOR HIM AND HIS STAFF TO MAINTAIN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE IR ATTITUDES TOWARDS STANDARDS GENERALLY AND TO ATTEMPT TO MEASURE CHANGES IN PUBLIC TASTE,

IN LINE WITH THIS, TWO IMPORTANT PROFESSIONALLY CONDUCTED PUBLIC SURVEYS DEALING WITH PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO FILM STANDARDS AND TELEVISION STANDARDS WILL BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT NINE MONTHS, HE SAID.

HE WAS ALSO PLANNING TO SET UP HOME TELEVISION VIEWING PANELS DESIGNED TO REPORT REGULARLY ON NEW PROGRAMMES AND ADVERTISING TRENDS.

THE WORK OF THESE PANELS WILL BE CO-ORDINATED THROUGH SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE TELEVISION ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH IS THE PRINCIPAL ADVISORY BODY.

IN HIS TALK ON 'TELEVISION AND THE CONSUMER', MR WATT ALSO SAID THAT GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN FOR THE TV CONSUMER PROMPTED THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW RULES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FURTHER PROTECTION FOR VIEWERS. A FAMILY VIEWING PERIOD WAS INTRODUCED, AND THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMES WERE STRENGTHENED.

/AT PRESENT