XN000022-1988-07-20 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988

"COMMUNITY INTEREST DICTATES THAT LICENSEES WHO ARE GRANTED FRANCHISES FOR OFF-AIR TELEVISION BROADCASTING ARE CONTROLLED WITH RESPECT TO THEIR PROGRAMME, ADVERTISING AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS,' HR SAID.

IN ADDITION, IN ORDER THAT THE POWERFUL INFLUENCE OF TELEVISION WOULD NOT BE EXPLOITED BY FOREIGN INTERESTS, IT WAS THE PRACTICE OF ALL COUNTRIES, THAT HE KNEW OF, TO RESTRICT THE CONTROLLING INTEREST OF TELEVISION LICENSEES TO LOCAL OWNERSHIPS.

A COMPANY THAT OPERATED A TELEVISION BROADCASTING STATION ON BEHALF OF A COMMUNITY HAD A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY, AND ITS ACTIVITIES AS A COMPANY COULD NOT BE SIMPLY CONSIDERED AS THOSE UNDERTAKEN BY A NORMAL COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, HE

SAID.

MR HO NOTED THAT, ΤΟ A LARGE EXTENT, SUCH TYPES OF RESTRICTIONS AND CONTROLS HAD ALREADY BEEN PRACTISED IN HONG KONG IN THE PROVISIONS OF THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE.

THE TELEVISION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS AIMED AT ENACTING AMENDMENTS TO THE PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE A MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS OF ENSURING THAT THESE CONTROLS WERE NOT CIRCUMVENTED.

RECOG

TRAVEL AGENTS BROUGHT INTO ONE RECOGNISED BODY

*

THE STATUTORY LICENSING REQUIREMENT OF TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL (TIC) MEMBERSHIP WILL BRING ALL TRAVEL AGENTS WITHIN ONE RECOGNISED TRADE BODY FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE TRAVEL AGENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988, MR JACOBS SAID THIS WOULD FACILITATE THE INDUSTRY IN RAISING PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND INTRODUCING A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS TO FOLLOW IN SERVING THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC.

HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WAS SATISFIED THAT CRITERIA ADOPTED BY THE TIC WERE NOT ONEROUS AND BONA SHOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY IN COMPLYING. THERE WAS ALSO ADMISSION OF NEW ASSOCIATION MEMBERS.

"ANY APPLICANT WHO HAS BEEN REFUSED TIC TO AN APPEAL BOARD, ESTABLISHED UNDER THE TIC CASE TO BE REVIEWED.

THE MEMBERSHIP FIDE OPERATORS

PROVISION FOR

MEMBERSHIP MAY APPLY CONSTITUTION, FOR THE

"EVERY EFFORT