XN000022-1987-05-27 — Page 22

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1987

+ HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY, THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THE LAW IS COMMONLY FLOUTED. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT SUCH A BAN CAN ACTUALLY INCREASE THE ATTRACTION OF CIGARETTES BY MAKING THEM FORBIDDEN FRUIT,+ HE SAID.

HE SAID THAT HE WAS SCEPTICAL ABOUT THE VALUE OF INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO BAN THE SALE OF CIGARETTES TO YOUNG PEOPLE, GIVEN THE ENFORCEMENT DIFFICULTIES.

+ HOWEVER I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS QUESTION IS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING OF THE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED PROVISIONAL COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH AND I AWAIT THEIR ADVICE WITH INTEREST,+ HE ADDED.

EDUCATION ROLE OF CABLE TV CONSIDERED

*****

THE GOVERNMENT IS PRESENTLY CONSIDERING THE IMPLICATIONS FOR TELECOMMUNICATION POLICY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF CABLE TELEVISION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS RITA FAN ON WHETHER THERE WOULD BE ONE CHANNEL OF THE CABLE TELEVISION RESERVED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, MR JACOBS SAID AT PRESENT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER.

+WHEN A DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN ON THIS POLICY ISSUE CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO THE LICENSING CONDITIONS OF CABLE TELEVISION,+ HE SAID.

BUT HE ADDED THAT IT WOULD TAKE A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE TELECOMMUNICATION POLICY ISSUES COULD BE SETTLED.

MR JACOBS TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE EDUCATION COMMISSION HAD RECOMMENDED THE FORMATION OF AN OPEN EDUCATION CONSORTIUM AND ALSO RECOMMENDED THE RESERVATION OF ONE CABLE TELEVISION CHANNEL FOR POST-SECONDARY OPEN EDUCATION.

+SHOULD THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON ESTABLISHING AN OPEN LEARNING INSTITUTE BE ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND IF AND WHEN A DECISION IS REACHED TO INTRODUCE A CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE, CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO RESERVING SUCH A CHANNEL, HE SAID.

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