XN000022-1992-04-29 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1992

"WE ARE AWARE THAT TELEVISION BROADCASTERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TELEVISION'S FALLING SHARE OF THE TOTAL ADVERTISING PIE AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY SINCE THEY ARE UNABLE TO TAP THE REVENUE FROM TOBACCO ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP SINCE THE PROHIBITION IMPOSED 1990," MR SO SAID.

IN

TV

"IN THE CURRENT REVIEW WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS THAT MAY HELP BROADCASTERS ΤΟ INCREASE THEIR ADVERTISING REVENUES, INCLUDING RELAXING SOME ASPECTS OF THE TELEVISION CODE OF PRACTICE ON ADVERTISING STANDARDS TO ALLOW TV STATIONS TO ACCESS A WIDER SOURCE.

"HOWEVER, PROTECTION OF THE CONSUMER WILL REMAIN PARAMOUNT IN ANY CONSIDERATION OF THIS ASPECT," HE SAID.

MR SO SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO BE LOOKING AT THE OWNERSHIP AND CORPORATE RESTRICTIONS ON BROADCASTING LICENSEES IN THE CURRENT REVIEW WITH A VIEW TO ENCOURAGE WIDER INVESTMENT AND FAIR COMPETITION.

HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THAT TO ENSURE MEDIA DIVERSIFICATION, THE BASIC PRINCIPLES THAT A BROADCASTER SHOULD, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, BE

BE A FREE-STANDING INDEPENDENT BODY WITH CONTROL RESTING IN LOCAL HANDS WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED.

"AS WITH MANY OVERSEAS GOVERNMENTS, WE SEE A NEED ΤΟ GUARD AGAINST DOMINATION IN BROADCASTING BY INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS, THEREBY IMPOSING UNIFORMITY AS WELL AS STEREOTYPE PROGRAMMING. THIS CLEARLY RUNS AGAINST THE INTEREST OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND CONSUMERS' CHOICE,' MR SO SAID.

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MORE PROTECTION FOR LOCAL AND IMPORTED WORKERS

* *

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS EXAMINING THE QUESTION OF COMPENSATION FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE DISMISSED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS FOR GIVING EVIDENCE OR INFORMATION CONCERNING BREACHES OF REGULATIONS ON WORK SAFETY.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN,

IN THE RESUMED SECOND-READING DEBATES ON THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1992 AND THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT)(NO. 3) BILL 1992 AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"THE ADMINISTRATION ACCEPTS THAT THERE IS A CASE FOR CONSIDERING APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION," HE SAID.

IN

THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR IS NOW EXAMINING THE QUESTION

FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD AND

DETAIL. THE OMELCO MANPOWER PANEL WILL BE NEEDED.

AT THE

MR CHAN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD ALSO BE LOOKING QUESTION OF PROTECTING IMPORTED WORKERS FROM UNFAIR DISMISSAL IN A SEPARATE AND WIDER CONTEXT.

/HE REAFFIRMED