XN000022-1986-01-16 — Page 9

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1986

HE ADDED, +IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE PROHIBITION, ANY WEALTHY PRESSURE GROUP COULD BUY AIR TIME TO ARGUE ITS CASE, POSSIBLY TO THE PREJUDICE OF LESS WEALTHY PERSONS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PUT THE CONVERSE POSITION. THIS WOULD NOT BE IN THE INTERESTS OF FREE SPEECH.

+1F THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE WISHES TO REVISE ITS PROPOSED ADVERTISEMENTS AND TURN THEM INTO PURELY TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS, IT IS OF COURSE FREE TO DO SO, IN WHICH CASE THEY WOULD HAVE TO CARRY THE STANDARD GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING ("CIGARETTE SMOKING IS MAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH'),+ HE SAID.

MR TSAO WENT ON TO SAY THAT, CONTRARY TO ONE RECENT EDITORIAL COMMENT. THE REGULATIONS RELATE PURELY TO ADVERTISING AND NOT TO OTHER PROGRAMMES BROADCAST BY THE TELEVISION COMPANIES.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS ARE GOVERNED BY A SEPARATE CODE OF PRACTICE WHICH REQUIRES ONLY THAT PROGRAMMES DEALING WITH NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS BE FAIR AND BALANCED.

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING RULES PREPARED *****

THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES, MR RAY ASTIN, ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT LISTING RULES MADE BY THE SECURITIES COMMISSION WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

HE EXPLAINED THAT PROPOSED LISTING RULES HAD BEEN PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES IN APRIL LAST YEAR, AND SUBMITTED FOR COMMENT BY INTERESTED PARTIES - THE STOCK EXCHANGES, LEGAL, ACCOUNTING AND STOCK BROKING BODIES, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, BANKS, FINANCIAL PUBLICATIONS AND A LARGE NUMBER OF PUBLIC LISTED COMPANIES.

DRAFT RULES WERE THEN PREPARED BY THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, ON THE BASIS OF THE MANY COMMENTS RECEIVED.

THE RULES WILL COMMENCE ON FEBRUARY 1. HOWEVER, CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONCERNING COMPLETION OF THE NEW STATUTORY UNDERTAKING AND DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS IN RESPECT OF ANNUAL DIRECTORS' STATEMENTS AND INTER IM REPORTS, WILL NOT TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ALSO TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE ARE THE SECURITIES (STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING) (AMENDMENT) RULES 1986, WHICH ALTER THE CITATION OF THE PRINCIPAL RULES MADE IN 1976 AND INTRODUCE THE DEFINITION OF 'COMPANY' INTO THOSE RULES.