XN000022-1986-03-19 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1986

+FROM THE COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW, ONCE COMMERCIAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS ARE DEPRIVED OF THE IR REVENUE FROM TOBACCO ADVERTISING, THE IR PRODUCTIONS WILL INEVITABLY BE AFFECTED, SHE SAID.

IN SUM, MRS FAN PROPOSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER BANNING TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS ON TELEVISION BETWEEN 4.30 PM AND 11 PM- LEVYING HEAVIER TAXES ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND USING THE REVENUE TO PUBLICISE THE HARMFULNESS OF SMOKING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE- AND MAKING TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS SUBJECT TO CENSORSHIP.

CALL TO FACILITATE RECEPTION OF SATELLITE BROADCASTS

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LEGISLATORS HAVE THE TASK OF FACILITATING THE RECEPTION, FOR THE ORDINARY HOUSEHOLD IN HONG KONG, OF SATELLITE TELEVISION BROADCASTS ACROSS A TRANSNATIONAL OR PERHAPS GLOBAL SPECTRUM, DR THE HON KIM CHAM SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD REPORT, DR CHAM SAID SUCH AN ACHIEVEMENT WOULD HELP SERVE TO KEEP HONG KONG ABREAST OF THE RAPID DEVELOPMENTS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND VINDICATE ITS IMAGE AS AN OPEN, MODERN AND AFFLUENT URBAN CENTRE IN THE ASIAN PACIFIC REGION.

+MOREOVER, IT WILL ENABLE OUR CITIZENS TO BROADEN THEIR CONTACTS WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD, IN GAINING ACCESS TO FIRST- HAND AND UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT FASHIONS, CONSUMER TASTES AS WELL AS POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND OTHER NEWS ON CURRENT AFFAIRS,+ HE SAID.

J

DR CHAM NOTED THAT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN RECEPTION TECHNOLOGY SINCE THE MID-70S HAD PERMITTED THE DIRECT RECEPTION IN HONG KONG OF BROADCAST TELEVISION PROGRAMMES FROM SATELLITES.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, SUCH AS IN THE UNITED STATES AND SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, RESTRICTIONS ON USING AERIALS HAD BEEN LIFTED, RESULTING IN THE LIBERALISATION OF PRIVATE RECEPTION.

DR CHAM FELT THAT THE TIME WAS THEREFORE OPPORTUNE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW EXISTING RESTRICTIONS WHICH MIGHT LIMIT THE APPLICATION OF THIS TECHNOLOGY FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL IN HONG KONG.

HE OBSERVED THAT DOMESTIC RECEPTION OF THESE BROADCAST SIGNALS BY INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS WAS NOT ILLEGAL AT PRESENT.

/+HOWEVER, THE