XN000022-1986-03-19 — Page 43

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1986

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MR TAM SUPPORTED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BROADCASTING AUTHORITY AND A RADIO AND TELEVISION COMPLAINTS TRIBUNAL TO FACILITATE MORE EFFECTIVE MONITORING OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY. HE LIKEWISE SUPPORTED THE PROPOSALS TO STRENGTHEN THE SUPERVISORY POWER OF THE EXISTING TELEVISION ADVISORY BOARD AND TO CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE THE GRANTING, OR MID-TERM REVIEW, OF LICENCES.

IN ORDER TO ENABLE THE PUBLIC TO FULLY UTILISE THE IR MONITORING POWER, THE GOVERNMENT MUST STEP UP PUBLICITY ON THE CURRENT AND FUTURE MONITORING SYSTEM AND EDUCA THE CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHT TO MONITOR, HE ADDED.

QUALITY OF PROGRAMMES SHOULD SATISFY PUBLIC NEEDS ****

THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENSURING THAT THE CONTENTS AND QUALITY OF BROADCAST PROGRAMMES SATISFY PUBLIC NEEDS WHEN IT ALLOCATE THE RIGHT TO USE A SPECIFIED FREQUENCY TO PRIVATE BODIES, DR THE HON DANIEL TSE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD REPORT, DR TSE SAID THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND EFFECTIVE WAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DISCHARGE THIS RESPONSIBILITY WAS BY IMPLEMENTING SIMPLE GUIDING LEGISLATION AS WELL AS A POWERFUL MONITORING SYSTEM TO ENSURE FAIR, REASONABLE AND ADEQUATE COMPETITION WITHIN THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY AND ALL BROADCASTING-ASSOCIATED BUSINESSES.

AS TO THE MODE OF OPERATION, ENTERPRISE STRUCTURE AND SCOPE OF BUSINESS, DR TSE SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE CONSISTENT IN ITS LAISSEZ FAIRE POLICY AND AVOID IMPOSING PASSIVE RESTRICTIONS ON THE LICENSEES.

TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC RECEIVED AN ADEQUATE AND OBJECTIVE SERVICE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE USE OF THE TAX ON PROFITS OF COMMERCIAL BROADCASTERS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED BUSINESS TO SET UP AND SUPPORT A PUBLIC BROADCASTER WHICH WAS NOT A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, HE SUGGESTED.

+BUT IN ORDER TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLE OF REASONABLE AND FAIR COMPETITION, THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER SHOULD NOT ENJOY THE PRIVILEGE OF MONOPOLISING A SPECIFIED PRIME TIME AND THERE SHOULD NOT BE A GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WORKING CAPITAL OF THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER AND THE COMMERCIAL LICENSEES, DR TSE SAID.

/HE ALSO