XN000022-1987-06-24 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1987

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ESTABLISHMENT UP TO 12

EXPLAINING THE BILL, HE SAID IT PROVIDED FOR THE OF A BROADCASTING AUTHORITY AS A BODY CORPORATE COMPRISING MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

"IT WILL ASSUME THE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS CURRENTLY VESTED IN THE TELEVISION ADVISORY BOARD AND THE TELEVISION AUTHORITY WHICH WILL CEASE TO EXIST, HE SAID.

H

UNLIKE THE TELEVISION ADVISORY BOARD WHICH WAS CHAIRED BY AN OFFICIAL, THE AUTHORITY WOULD BE CHAIRED BY A NON-OFFICIAL MEMBER COMPRISING ONLY THREE PUBLIC OFFICERS, MR FORD NOTED.

THE TERMS OF OFFICE OF THE NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS WOULD BE FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO THREE YEARS AND MEMBERS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT, HE ADDED.

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"THE NEW AUTHORITY WILL THEREFORE PROVIDE FOR GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE REGULATION OF THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY, MR FORD SAID.

ON THE WORK OF THE AUTHORITY, HE SAID IT WOULD MAINLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE GRANTING, RENEWAL OR REVOCATION OF TELEVISION LICENCES, THE PREPARATION OF CODES OF PRACTICE ON PROGRAMME, ADVERTISING AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS, THE ISSUING OF DIRECTIONS TO TELEVISION LICENCEES AND THE EXAMINATION OF PROGRAMME MATERIALS INTENDED FOR BROADCAST.

IT WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO IMPOSE FINANCIAL BREACH OF LICENSING CONDITIONS, HE ADDED.

PENALTIES FOR ANY

AS THE AUTHORITY WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A PUBLIC BODY UNDER THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE, ANY APPEAL AGAINST ITS DECISION WOULD BE BY WAY OF A PETITION то THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL, MR FORD

SAID.

BE

NOTING THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEES WITH CO-OPTED MEMBERS MIGHT SET UP TO EXAMINE ANY ASPECT OF BROADCASTING, HE SAID THE AUTHORITY WAS EXPECTED TO CONSULT WIDELY ON PROGRAMME STANDARDS.

COMPRISING FIVE MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORITY AND OTHER CO-OPTED MEMBERS, A COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE WOULD BE ESTABLISHED ΤΟ INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST BREACHES OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE TELEVISION LICENCES, CODES OF PRACTICE OR THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE AND TO THE AUTHORITY ON THE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO TAKE, MR FORD SAID.

ADVISE

THIS WOULD ENABLE THE COMMITTEE TO BENEFIT FROM THE EXPERT ADVICE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE IN PARTICULAR SUBJECTS.

"THE COMMITTEE WILL BE EMPOWERED TO REQUIRE THE SUBMISSION OF FILM MATERIALS FOR REVIEW AND TO INSPECT THE BOOKS AND RECORDS OF LICENSEES," HE SAID.

TURNING TU