XN000022-1995-07-19 — Page 67

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Television regulations amendment

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Recreation and Culture, Mr James So, on the Television regulations in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move the motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

These two amending Regulations form part of the Administration's overall review to ensure that existing laws do not infringe press freedom and the right to freedom of expression.

The Commercial Television (Advertising) (Amendment) Regulation 1995 was made by the Governor in Council on 20 June 1995. It removes the power of the Director of Health to pre-censor advertisements for any medical preparations. The scope of the Director of Health's discretion has been criticised as sweeping and undefined. It also gives the Authority pre-censorship powers that have been removed elsewhere, and creates a disparity in treatment between different media, since no similar restriction is imposed on sound broadcasters and the printed media. There is little justification to retain this Regulation in the Television Ordinance. Following the repeal however, provisions will continue to be made, and be revised if necessary, in the Codes of Practice issued by the Broadcasting Authority, to guide broadcasters in respect of advertisements on medical preparations, and to protect the public against misleading and unacceptable advertisements in this regard.