XN000022-1986-03-19 — Page 42

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1986

41

CONCERN FOR PROSPECTS OF RTHK STAFF

*****

A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON TAM YHU CHUNG, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE CAREER PROSPECTS OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG STAFF, WHO WOULD BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE RE-ORGANISATION OF THE STATION AS PROPOSED IN THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD REPORT.

SPEAKING AT THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE OF THE REPORT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR TAM ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO FIRST CONSULT RTHK'S STAFF UNION BEFORE DECIDING ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATION.

IN HANDLING THE RE-ORGANISATION OF RTHK, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENSURE THAT IT COULD SURVIVE FINANCIALLY AFTER ITS

INDEPENDENCE.

HE ADDED THAT THE EXISTING LEVEL OF PAY, BENEFITS AND JOB SECURITY ENJOYED BY RTHK STAFF SHOULD NOT BE LOWERED, AND THAT THOSE STAFF ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE STATION SHOULD BE GIVEN A REASONABLE COMPENSATION AND EARLY RETIREMENT GRATUITY.

MR TAM DISAGREED WITH THE PROPOSAL THAT THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER SHOULD BE SELF-FINANCING THROUGH ADVERTISING REVENUE AND SPONSORSHIP, SAYING THAT SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WOULD AFFECT FINANCIAL STABILITY AND BROADCASTING INDENPENDENCE.

+IN MY OPINION, PUBLIC BROADCASTING IS A KIND OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SHOULDER PART OF OR EVEN THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, HE SAID.

HE ALSO SAID IT WAS WORTH CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF FINANCING THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER BY APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE ROYALTY OBTAINED FROM COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING LICENCEES.

REFERRING TO OTHER ASPECTS OF THE REPORT, MR TAM SUPPORTED THE VIEW THAT THE AIRWAVES WERE THE PROPERTY OF THE COMMUNITY, AND, WHEN RENEWING LICENCES, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE THE POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY TO REALLOCATE THE USE OF THESE AIRWAVES IN THE WIDER INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

HE AGREED THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST REGULATE AND MONITOR THE USE OF AIRWAVES, AND THAT THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATION FOR RE-ORGANISING RTHK INTO AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC BROADCASTER HAVING A BETTER, MORE STABLE AND LONGER AIR-TIME WAS IN LINE WITH PUBLIC NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS.

/MR TAM