XN000022-1986-03-19 — Page 26

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1986

TURNING TO TOBACCO ADVERTISING, MR CHUNG BELIEVED IT SERVED NO USEFUL PURPOSE JUST TO EXTEND THE HOURS OF PARTIAL BAN A LITTLE LONGER.

+ THE ISSUE ON PROHIBITION OF TOBACCO ADVERTISING CANNOT

BE LINKED UP WITH THE POLICY OF FREE ENTERPRISE OR LAISSEZ-FAIRE. AS SMOKING IS HAZARDOUS TO ONE'S HEALTH, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE "EASURES TO FORE-STALL THE PROMOTION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND CURB THE TENDENCY OF THE PUBLIC TO SMOKE SO AS TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S HEALTH.

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+THEREFORE I GIVE MY SUPPORT TO A TOTAL BAN OF TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS ON RADIO AND TELEVISION. HE SAID.

COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS SHOULD NOT BE CONFINED

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THE RECOMMENDATION THAT BROADCAST LICENSEES SHOULD BE CONFINED AS TO CORPORATE STRUCTURE AND THAT THEY MUST OPERATE SOLELY AS. BROADCASTERS MET WITH OBJECTION FROM THE HON THOMAS CLYDESDALE.

SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE BROADCASTING REVIEN BOARD (BRB) REPORT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID HE COULD NOT SEE WHY LICENSEES COULD NOT OPERATE WITHIN A BUSINESS SPECTRUM WHICH PERMITTED DIVERSE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH BROADCASTING.

HE BELIEVED THAT THE EXISTING TELEVISION ORDINANCE CLEARLY PERMITTED A LICENSEE TO CARRY ON SUCH FORMS OF BUSINESS AS MAY BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED OR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF A TELEVISION BROADCASTING SERVICE.

+THERE ARE MANY ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES WHICH CAN ADD TO THE COMMERCIAL AND COMPETITIVE STRENGTH OF ANY LICENSEE, FOR EXAMPLE, DISTRIBUTION OF A PROGRAMME MAGAZINE, TECHNICAL SERVICES OF USE TO THE STATION AND TO OTHERS, AND SO ON.

+ IN SHORT, THE SAME COMMERCIAL REASONS THAT APPLY TO THE LOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF A BASIC SOURCE OF BUSINESS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO APPLY TO BROADCASTING LICENSEES, HE SAID.

MR CLYDESDALE WARNED THAT CONFINING LICENSEES UNDULY COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE ECONOMICS OF THEIR BUSINESS THUS REDUCING COMPETITIVE CAPABILITY AND SCOPE FOR NEW INVESTMENT AND TECHNOLOGICAL UPGRADING.

+ THE MAIN CRITERION MUST SURELY BE THAT THE LICENSEE AT ALL TIMES MAINTAINS THE STANDARD OF SERVICE WHICH HIS LICENCE REQUIRES, + HE SAID.

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/ON ROYALTY