XN000022-1986-03-19 — Page 41

WEDNESDAY,

MARCH 1Y

40

NEED SEEN TO CLOSE LOOPHOLES

****

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REAFFIRM THE SPIRIT OF SECTION 10 OF THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE FOR THE SAKE OF THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDUSTRY AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE HON MRS ROSANNA TAM SAID DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD REPORT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+SECTION 10 OF THE CURRENT TV ORDINANCE STIPULATES

THAT TELEVISION LICENSEES SHALL BE PERMITTED ONLY TO PROVIDE BROADCASTING SERVICES AND OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE CONNECTED OR ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

+ THE SPIRIT BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION IS TO ENSURE THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE TELEVISION BROADCASTING INDUSTRY, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO POLITICAL INFLUENCE OR THE MANIPULATION OF FINANCIAL CONGLOMERATES, AND AT THE SAME TIME ALLOWING ALL LICENSEES TO COMPLETE ON EQUAL FOOTING, SHE SAID.

UNFORTUNATELY, FOR VARIOUS REASONS, THERE WAS TODAY IN THE INDUSTRY A VIOLATION OF THE SPIRIT OF SECTION 10, SHE SAID,

+ THE EMERGENCE OF JOINT VENTURE CONGLOMERATES NOT ONLY DOES INJUSTICE TO OTHER TELEVISION LICENSEES, BUT ALSO BRINGS ABOUT UNFAIR COMPETITION TO OTHER COMPANIES IN THE JOINT VENTURE BUSINESS, MRS TAM SAID.

SHE SAID THAT APPROPRIATE AMENDMENTS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE LEGISLATION TO CLOSE LOOPHOLES AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT WHEN NEW LICENCES WERE ISSUED NO PRETENTIOUS OR FICTITIOUS JOINT VENTRUE COMPANIES OR OTHER FORMS OF BUSINESS NOT CONNECTED WITH BROADCASTING WOULD BE ALLOWED TO DEVELOP AND TO MONOPOLISE THE INDUSTRY.

IN ANTICIPATION OF FUTURE BROADCASTING NEEDS, MRS TAM AGREED THAT THERE WOULD BE AN UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND FOR INFORMATIVE PROGRAMMES.

SHE ALSO SUPPORTED THE RECOMMENDATION TO DISESTABLISH RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, WHICH HAD AMPLE EXPERIENCE IN MAKING PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAMMES, FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO BECOME THE INDEPENDENT PUBLIC BROADCASTER.

MRS TAM HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER ALLOCATING WEEKENDS AND SUNDAYS TO THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER.

+THIS WILL NOT ONLY ENSURE THAT IT WILL HAVE AN IDEAL AND SUITABLE TIME TO PUT ITS PROGRAMMES ON THE AIR, BUT WILL ALSO HELP TO ESTABLISH IN THE MINDS OF THE PUBLIC A SHARP AND DISTINCT IMAGE.

+LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE EFFECTIVE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATION CAN SURVIVE AND THRIVE,+ SHE SAID.

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