XN000022-1994-08-24 — Page 3

2

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1994

SAID,

"THE THIRD PRINCIPLE IS PROTECTION OF VIEWERS' INTERESTS,'

11 HE

THROUGH

WHEREBY THE THE WIDEST

AS

MANY

THIS IS ACHIEVED PARTLY BY THE SECOND PRINCIPLE DIVERSITY OBTAINED WILL ENSURE THAT VIEWERS ARE OFFERED

AND INFORMATION PROGRAMMES POSSIBLE CHOICE OF DIFFERENT BROADCASTERS AS THE MARKET CAN SUSTAIN.

AND PARTLY THROUGH REQUIREMENTS OF THE BROADCASTERS TO OBSERVE BROADCASTS, CODES OF PRACTICE RELATING TO TECHNICAL QUALITY OF

ISSUED BY CONTENTS AND CUSTOMER TELECOMMUNICATION AND BROADCASTING AUTHORITIES FROM TIME TO TIME.

CLEAR PROGRAMME

SERVICES

HONG KONG IS TAKING STEPS TO MAKE ITS LICENSING FRAMEWORK ATTRACTIVE TO FOREIGN SATELLITE TELEVISION BROADCASTERS, ACCORDING MR SO.

THE

MORE ΤΟ

TO ENABLE SINCE LAST MONTH, IT HAS INTRODUCED A NEW MEASURE OVERSEAS SATELLITE TELEVISION SERVICES TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN HONG KONG QUICKLY WITHOUT THE NEED TO WAIT FOR NEW LEGISLATION TO THE

SATELLITE FRAMEWORK LEGAL

ΤΟ LICENSE REQUIRING ITS OWN UPLINKING FACILITIES.

BROADCASTING

PROVIDE SERVICES

HONG KONG TELECOMMUNICATION THIS

ALLOWING IS DONE BY INTERNATIONAL LTD TO USE ITS SATELLITE UPLINK/DOWNLINK FACILITIES PROVIDE THE NECESSARY UPLINK FACILITIES FOR BROADCASTERS

IN THE

IN REGION, TELEVISION SERVICES INTRODUCE

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES.

WISHING ΤΟ ΤΟ ADDITION

PROVIDERS THIS IS, HOWEVER, SUBJECT TO THE TELEVISION SERVICE

TECHNICAL ASPECTS AND ON OBSERVING CERTAIN CODES OF PRACTICE ON PROGRAMME CONTENTS.

LAWS TO "IN ADDITION, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING OUR

GRANTING A SATELLITE RELAX THE FOREIGN OWNERSHIP RESTRICTIONS IN

IN FUTURE UPLINK/DOWNLINK LICENCE SO THAT SUCH TELEVISION SERVICES COULD BE UNDER MAJORITY FOREIGN OWNERSHIP.

IT WOULD REQUIRE "THIS WOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO ACHIEVE AS CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE AS WELL AS AMENDING EXISTING LAWS.

*

THE REASON FOR MAKING THIS CHANGE WAS THAT SATELLITE TELEVISION DIRECTED SERVICES DID NOT AIM AT TARGETING HONG KONG ALONE, BUT WERE AT THE REGION AS A WHOLE, MR SO SAID.

BROADCASTERS

ITS IMPACT ON THE LOCAL AUDIENCE AND TERRESTRIAL IN HONG KONG WAS THUS UNLIKELY TO BE SIGNIFICANT AND IT WAS HOPED THAT THESE CHANGES COULD BE INTRODUCED NEXT YEAR.

HAD OBTAINED A KONG WOULD

FURTHERMORE, ANY SATELLITE BROADCASTERS WHO LICENCE TO UPLINK AND DOWNLINK THEIR SERVICES FROM HONG STAND A BETTER CHANCE OF ACCEPTANCE IN THE CHINA MARKET.

FACTORS. FIRST,

BY

MR SO SAID: "THIS IS BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF CHINA IS CONSULTED BEFORE ANY LICENCES OF THIS NATURE ARE GRANTED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

/"THUS THE