XN000022-1994-10-17 — Page 2

1

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1994

NO REQUIREMENT FOR AIR AGREEMENTS TO BE RENEGOTIATED

SAID SIGNED

COMMENT LNG. ON AN ARTICLE IN THE EASTERN EXPRESS TODAY MONDAY), ACTING SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ELIZABETH BOSHER,

WAS THERE

NO REQUIREMENT FOR AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS (ASAS) WITH OTHER COUNTRIES TO BE RENEGOTIATED WITH THE CHINESE SIDE.

THE ARTICLE CLAIMED THAT THE RIGHT OF REVIEW BY CHINA HAD BEEN WRITTEN INTO EVERY ASA CONCLUDED BY THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP (JLG).

THIS IS SIMPLY NOT 80," MES BOSHER SAID.

“UNDER ARRANGEMENTS AGREED IN THE JLG, THE CHINESE

THE TEXT

ES CONSULTED ON

OF EACH ASA BEFORE IT

SIGNED CONTRACTING COUNTRY, TO ENSURE THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO BE VAI FD BEYOND 1997," SHE EXPLAINED.

F

SIDE WITH THE HAPPY

IS

BY

"THE AGREEMENTS NEGOTIATED AND CONCLUDED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

NOT DO

CONTAIN A PROVISION FOR THE RIGHT" OF "REVIEW CHINA, AS CLAIMED IN THE ARTICLE.

++

KONG

RENEW AGREEMENTS

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE FUTURE HONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT WIL). 'BE AUTHORISED TO

EXTEND EXISTING ASAS AND TO NEGOTIATE AND CONCLUDE NEW RESPECT OF SERVICES WHICH DO NOT OPERATE TO, FROM OR MAINLAND OF CHINA.

OR IN

"THERE

TO

THROUGH THE

BEING PARTNERS IS NO QUESTION OF HONG KONG'S AVIATION NEGOTIATE THE

SUCH TERMS OF

ASAS WITH REQUIRED

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, MRS BOSHER POINTED OUT.

BA APPROVES TVB TO INVEST IN SATELLITE TV

THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY (BA) HAS GIVEN TVB APPROVAL TO INVEST IN A SATELLITE TELEVISION BROADCASTING SERVICE.

A SPOKESMAN SAID: "THIS APPROVAL TS AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO PROMOTE HONG KONG AS A REGIONAL BROADCASTING

HUB.**

USE HONG SHOULD ALSO

WHILE OVERSEAS SATELLITE OPERATORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO KONG AS A BASE, THE BA FELT THAT HOME GROWN BROADCASTERS BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE AND FXPAND REGIONALLY.

"HOWEVER," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, "THE BA'S FOREMOST TO LOOK AFTER THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG VIEWERS",

CONCERN IS

ADVERSELY TVB'S

IN APPROVING TAB'S PLANS THE BA HAS BUILT IN SAFEGUARDS ΤΟ ENSURE THAT TVB'S INVESTMENT WILL NOT AFFECT COMMITMENT TO LOCAL TELEVISION BROADCASTING.

/THE BA