XN000022-1993-03-31 — Page 47

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993

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RTHK PROGRAMME QUALITY, MORALE UNAFFECTED BY BUDGET CUT-BACKS

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THE BUDGET CUT-BACKS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS FOR RTHK HAVE NOT RESULTED IN THE PRODUCTION OF FEWER AND POORER QUALITY PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMES NOR HAVE THESE AFFECTED THE STAFF MORALE.

IN FACT, THE QUALITY OF RTHK'S PROGRAMMES HAS REMAINED CONSISTENTLY HIGH AND HAS MORE THAN ADEQUATELY MET PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS, AS IS CLEARLY REFLECTED IN RECENT AUDIENCE APPRECIATION SURVEYS.

MR

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, JAMES So, WHEN SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1993 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR SO SAID BOTH TVB AND ATV, NO DOUBT INSPIRED BY THE POPULARITY OF RTHK'S PROGRAMMES, HAD PRODUCED THEIR OWN GOOD QUALITY PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING NEWS MAGAZINE, NEWSLINE, MONDAY MONITOR, PEARL REPORT, AND SUNDAY REPORT.

"ESSENTIALLY, WE LOOK TO RTHK TO UNDERTAKE PROGRAMMING THAT THE COMMERCIAL BROADCASTERS MIGHT BAULK AGAINST," HE SAID.

"IT IS CLEAR THAT IN THIS AREA OF PROGRAMMING, TVB AND ATV ARE NOT BAULKING.

"THUS IT IS RIGHT THAT RTHK SHOULD NOW FOCUS ON AREAS NOT COVERED BY THE COMMERCIAL BROADCASTERS AND GO FOR QUALITY RATHER THAN QUANTITY."

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ON THE RADIO SIDE, RTHK ALSO MAINTAINS ITS LEADING POSITION SHOWN BY THE RECENT SEVEN-DAY LISTENING FIGURES FOR THE TOP FIVE RADIO CHANNELS.

SPEAKING ON STAFF MORALE, MR SO STATED: "LET NO ONE BE UNDER THE DELUSION THAT MORALE IS NOT HIGH AT RTHK.

"IT COULD NOT BE OTHERWISE HAVING REGARD TO THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF RTHK'S RADIO AND TELEVISION SERVICES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, OF WHICH BOTH STAFF MEMBERS OF RTHK AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE CAN BE JUSTLY PROUD."

TURNING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE, THE SECRETARY NOTED THAT SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN THE PAST DECADE.

то MAP OUT THE WAY FORWARD, THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUBLISHED THE ARTS POLICY REVIEW REPORT FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION EARLY THIS MONTH.

ONB OF THE MAJOR PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT IS ΤΟ RECONSTITUTE THE EXISTING COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (CFPA) INTO AN ARTS COUNCIL AND TO EXPAND THE COUNCIL'S SCOPE

TO EMBRACE VISUAL AND LITERARY ARTS IN ADDITION TO THE PERFORMING ARTS.

THE

/MR SO