XN000022-1995-07-19 — Page 31

It also seeks to turn the fundamental philosophy of regulating the broadcasting industry from one based on technology to one based on programmes to ensure that the legislation could cope with the rapid technological changes in the industry in future.

In addition, the new legislation will deal with, and further clarify, the issues of foreign and cross-media ownership to reflect the status of Hong Kong as the broadcasting centre of Asia.

This was announced by the Secretary for Recreation and Culture, Mr James So, during the motion debate on the formulation of comprehensive broadcasting legislation at the Legislative Council meeting today (Wednesday).

Mr So refuted criticisms by some Members that the Government was not moving fast enough and that the delay was due to difficulties in consulting the Chinese.

The slow progress, he explained, was mainly because it was a highly complex and difficult piece of legislation to draft and a task made more difficult by the rapid development and changes, especially in technology, in the industry in the last few years.

"It has nothing to do with difficulties arising from consultation with the Chinese," he stated.

"Indeed, we have not started consultation with the Chinese on the draft legislation. We are not ready yet, but we will certainly have to consult them at some stage before finalising the legislation for enactment.

"I would however like to assure Members that we have now got a clear working draft, and I shall exert my best endeavour to bring this piece of draft legislation to this Council in the next session for Members' scrutiny." Earlier, Mr So told the Council that Hong Kong had already provided a well-defined, open and clear broadcasting regulatory environment for the local broadcasting industry.

In 1990, there were only two terrestrial TV stations broadcasting four free-to- air channels in Hong Kong. To-date, a total of 28 TV channels are available to Hong Kong viewers. These include four terrestrial free-to-air channels, four free-to-air satellite channels and 20 subscription channels.