XN000022-1984-08-30 — Page 7

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1984

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BROADCASTING REVIEW WILL BE EXHAUSTIVE

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THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO CONDUCT THE MOST THOROUGH

THIS IS EXAMINATION OF BROADCASTING EVER UNDERTAKEN IN HONG KONG. "EMONSTRATED BY THE EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF TASKS THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD TO CARRY OUT. THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD, MR A. G. COOPER, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) AT A Y'S MEN'S CLUB LUNCHEON.

BEFORE SUBMITTING ITS RECOMMENDATIONS, MR COOPER SAID, THE BOARD WHICH WAS APPOINTED IN FEBRUARY, THIS YEAR, WILL THOROUGHLY REVIEW ALL ASPECTS OF BROADCASTING IN HONG KONG, PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE LONG-TERM NEEDS OF THE LOCAL POPULATION CONCERNING THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF RADIO AND TELEVISION IN THE 1990'S, AND BEYOND.

THE RELEVANCE TO HONG KONG OF THE MANY TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN BROADCASTING WORLDWIDE, SUCH AS CABLE SYSTEMS, DIRECT BROADCASTING BY SATELLITE AND TELETEXT," WILL ALSO BE STUDIED.

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST WHICH ARE WITHIN THE REVIEW FRAMEWORK INCLUDE THE FINANCIAL AND MANPOWER RESOURCES IN THE INDUSTRY; THE CONDITIONS OF ADVERTISING CONTROL AND THE POSSIBILITY OF BANNING CERTA IN ADVERTISEMENTS, AS WELL AS REVIEWING THE ADVERTISING AND PROGRAMME CODES OF PRACTICE; THE FUTURE OF RTHK AND THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY; ETV AND THE CENSORSHIP AND MONITORING ARRANGMENTS.

MR COOPER CONSIDERED THE BOARD WAS WELL QUALIFIED TO CARRY OUT ITS WORK, HAVING A HIGH COURT JUDGE AS CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS DRAWN FROM A WIDE SECTION OF INTERESTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR INCLUDING THE ELECTRONICS AND ADVERTISING INDUSTRIES, EDUCATION AND THE UNIVERSITIES, SOCIAL WORK AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

TO ASSIST IN ITS WORK, THE BOARD HAD FORMED 10 SUB-COMMITTEES TO LOOK INTO SPECIFIC AREAS.

THE SOLICITING OF PUBLIC OPINION WAS ANOTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE REVIEW, MR COOPER POINTED OUT, AND THE BOARD HAD SPECIFICALLY INVITED THE PUBLIC TO SUBMIT VIEWS. IN RESPONSE TO AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED EARLIER THIS MONTH (AUGUST), LETTERS AND PROPOSALS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND INTERESTED PARTIES WERE COMING IN AT A GOOD RATE.

IN ADDITION, THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WAS CONDUCTING A TERRITORY-WIDE SURVEY TO ASSESS PUBLIC OPINION AND TO IDENTIFY NEEDS, IN TERMS OF QUANTITY AND QUALITY, OF BOTH TELEVISION AND RADIO BROADCASTING.

PUBLIC HEARINGS WOULD BE HELD IN NOVEMBER AND INTERESTED PARTIES WOULD BE INVITED TO DISCUSS WITH THE BOARD THEIR WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS AND ANY OTHER ITEMS OF MUTUAL CONCERN. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE URGED TO FORWARD THE IR VIEWS TO THE BOARD AT G.P.O. BOX 7000.

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