XN000022-1986-03-19 — Page 40

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1986

HE AGREED THAT THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO AIR-TIME BUT THIS SHOULD BE SPREAD EVENLY DURING BROADCASTING HOURS TO PROVIDE A REAL CHOICE TO THE VIEWING PUBLIC AND FAIR TREATMENT TO ALL LICENSEES.

+THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER SHOULD IN ALL REGULATORY MATTERS BE TREATED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE OTHER LICENSEES.

+ I AM CONVINCED THAT EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE FROM GOVERNMENT INFLUENCE CAN BE SAFEGUARDED BY APPROPRIATE ORGANISATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS,+ HE SAID.

ON THE QUESTION OF BANNING TOBACCO ADVERTISING, MR SOHMEN SAID THIS WAS A DIFFICULT MATTER SO LONG AS TOBACCO PRODUCTS WERE LEGALLY SOLD AND PERMITTED TO BE ADVERTISED IN OTHER MEDIA AND IN CTHER FORMS.

+ONE CANNOT MAKE A VERY CONVINCING CASE THAT TOBACCO ADVERTISING SHOULD BE BANNED FROM TELEVISION, HOWEVER MUCH ONE IS CONVINCED OF OR WISHES TO SUPPORT GOVERNMENT'S VALID POLICY TO DISCOURAGE SMOKING ON HEALTH GROUNDS, HE SAID.

HE SUGGESTED THE GOVERNMENT AND THE ANTI-SMOKING LOBBY SHOULD GET THEIR VIEWS ACROSS BY USING THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY AS AN ADVERTISING MEDIUM FOR THEIR OWN MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS.

+ANOTHER SOLUTION IS PERHAPS TO STATUTORILY REQUIRE A LARGER SCREEN AREA, SAY 40 PER CENT, TO BE BLOCKED OFF IN EACH COMMERCIAL FOR THE HEALTH WARNING.

+ IN THE LATTER CASE TOBACCO ADVERTISING WOULD BE FORCED TO PAY PARTIALLY FOR THE ANTI-SMOKING EFFORT WITHOUT BEING COMPLETELY DENIED ACCESS TO THE MARKET AND WITHOUT DEPRIVING LICENSEES OF SUBSTANTIAL REVENUE, HE SAID.

EARLIER, MR SOHMEN PRAISED THE COUNCIL'S AD HOC GROUP ON THE REPORT FOR ACHIEVING A HIGH DEGREE OF CONSENSUS AT LEAST ON THE PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING RAD 10 AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING IN HONG KONG. HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE REPORT SUFFERED FROM TRYING TO ACHIEVE TOO MANY AND OFTEN CONTRADICTORY OBJECTIVES.

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