XN000022-1995-05-11 — Page 9

IL

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A spokesman for the Recreation and Culture Branch explained today (Thursday) that a public access service was in effect a channel allowing members of the public to air their own programmes while a public broadcasting service would be an extension or elaboration, on a dedicated channel, of RTHK's existing programmes broadcast by ATV and TVB.

However, he noted that there were at present ample opportunities and avenues on existing television and radio channels, whether provided by commercial licensees or by RTHK, for community groups and individuals to air their views, voice their opinions and grievances, and obtain public information and knowledge.

"There are nearly 165 hours of such television and radio programmes being aired each week," he stated, adding that public access television was not the only means to achieve the broad objective of providing the public with a forum for the free flow of information and expression.

"These existing means and avenues which is broadcast free, unlike cable television which has a much smaller audience reach, continue to serve the community well.

"Having regard to the available avenues to the public, the Governor-in-Council considered that both the public access service and public broadcasting service did not justify priority spending on a resource allocation basis," he said.

The spokesman said public access television was not found anywhere in Asia. Even in western countries, such as the United States and Canada, the experience has not been entirely a satisfactory or happy one.

More importantly, there are serious practical difficulties involved in establishing and running a public access service in Hong Kong. These are:

the Administration is obliged to maintain the same quality and standards as existing TV broadcasting licensees to ensure that the service would not be misused for political, commercial or pornographic purposes;

there would be difficulties in relying on post- broadcast sanctions for persons who might make use of a public access service to defame others, infringe copyright or seriously offend public morals or sensitivities. Pre- screening or pre-censoring of programmes, on the other hand, would have Bill of Rights implications for freedom of opinion and expression;