XN000022-1992-10-17 — Page 3

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1992

MORE TV CHOICES FOR HK VIEWERS

HONG KONG VIEWERS WOULD LIKELY BE ABLE TO ENJOY MORE TELEVISION PROGRAMME CHOICES BY OCTOBER NEXT YEAR IF THE PROPOSAL FROM WHARF CABLE FOR A SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM WAS FOUND ACCEPTABLE, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MRS RACHEL CARTLAND, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MRS CARTLAND SAID THE BID WAS BEING EXAMINED VERY CAREFULLY A GROUP OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO HAD BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ON BROADCASTING POLICY FOR SOME YEARS.

BY

LED BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH, THE GROUP INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH, THE POST OFFICE, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, FINANCE BRANCH AND THE TREASURY.

THE GROUP IS ASSISTED BY INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS, KPMG PEAT MARWICK IN ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE BID.

"THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY HAS A CRUCIAL PART TO PLAY BECAUSE ITS NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS REFLECT THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE AUTHORITY HAVING WORKED ON THESE ISSUES FOR SO LONG HAS BUILT UP ITS OWN EXPERTISE AND VALUABLE EXPERIENCE OF THE BROADCASTING FIELD IN HONG KONG, MRS CARTLAND SAID.

SHE SAID THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY'S RECOMMENDATION ON THE BID WOULD BE PASSED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WHO WOULD MAKE THE FINAL DECISION BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

"IF THE DECISION IS AFFIRMATIVE, THERE WILL BE A PERIOD OF CONCENTRATED WORK ON A LICENCE, WHICH WE WOULD AIM TO ISSUE BEFORE THE END OF JANUARY 1993.

"THE WORK ΤΟ GET THE LICENCE OUT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY DEMANDING BECAUSE IT WILL REQUIRED BEFOREHAND EXTENSIVE AMENDMENT

OF THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY AUTHORITY TO ISSUE A SUBSCRIPTION TV LICENCE" SHE ADDED.

1

MRS CARTLAND SAID THE BID WOULD BE ANALYSED FROM THE FINANCIAL, TECHNICAL AND PROGRAMMING POINT OF VIEW.

"WHEN WE LOOK AT FINANCIAL ASPECTS WE WILL BE CONSIDERING WHETHER THE BIDDER HAS DEMONSTRATED ADEQUATE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT SEE THROUGH A MAJOR PROJECT AND ONE WHICH WILL NOT

BE IMMEDIATELY

PROFITABLE.

ΤΟ

SHE SAID THE GROUP WOULD ALSO BE LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED CHARGES ΤΟ THE CONSUMER TO ASSESS WHETHER THEY WERE FAIR AND REASONABLE YET ALSO SET AT A LEVEL ADEQUATE TO ENSURE CONTINUED VIABILITY OF THE BUSINESS OPERATION.

"WE SHALL NEED TO BE SATISFIED THAT THE TECHNOLOGY PROPOSED IS OF HIGH QUALITY AND SUITED TO HONG KONG CONDITIONS.

/"WE WILL