XN000022-1984-02-28 — Page 16

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1984

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NEW LOOK AT BROADCASTING

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THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED A BOARD TO CONDUCT AN OVERALL REVIEW OF TELEVISION AND SOUND BROADCASTING.

THE 16-MEMBER BOARD IS TO BE CHAIRED BY THE HON MR JUSTICE POWER, WHO HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON TO EXPLAIN THE TASK OF THE BOARD.

THE REVIEW WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO PREPARE AN OVERALL POLICY FOR BROADCASTING WHICH WILL BE IN LINE WITH THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

THE BOARD HAS WIDE-RANGING TERMS OF REFERENCE WHICH WILL ALLOW IT TO EXAMINE ALL ASPECTS OF BROADCASTING IN THE TERRITORY.

PARTICULAR ATTENTION WILL BE PAID TO WHETHER CHANGES ARE NECESSARY IN THE TENDERING PROCEDURES FOR THE NEW LICENCES WHICH WILL BE AWARDED IN 1988 FOR TELEVISION, AND IN 1989 FOR SOUND BROADCASTING, SAID A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN.

ADVERTISING, CENSORSHIP, FINANCIAL AND MAN-POWER RESOURCES WILL ALSO BE ASSESSED.

THE BOARD WILL LOOK INTO THE ROLE OF THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY, RTHK, GOVERNMENT BROADCASTING AND EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION. DEVELOPMENTS IN FIELDS SUCH AS CABLE SYSTEMS, DIRECT SATELLITE TRANSMISSIONS AND OFF-AIR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES WILL ALSO BE STUDIED.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE BOARD WILL INVITE REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY, INTERESTED BODIES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THE BOARD WILL HOLD ITS FIRST MEETING SHORTLY AND IS EXPECTED TO SUBMIT ITS FINDINGS TO THE GOVERNOR-IN- COUNCIL BY THE SUMMER OF 1985.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE:

HON MR JUSTICE POWER (CHAIRMAN)

MR A.G. COOPER (SECRETARY)

SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS

SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION'S REPRESENTATIVE

ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S REPRESENTATIVE

DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S REPRESENTATIVE

DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING

COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING

/POSTMASTER-GENERAL