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Video control and pay TV deregulation are top priorities

The Recreation and Culture Branch is set to give top priority to drawing up regulatory proposals for Video-on-Demand (VOD) services and completing the review on the deregulation of pay television market before Wharf Cable's exclusivity expires at the end of May.

This was stated by the Secretary for Recreation and Culture, Mr T H Chau, today (Tuesday) at a press conference reviewing various tasks on the broadcasting front in the year ahead.

Mr Chau said given the declared intention of Hong Kong Telecom to introduce VOD services in July, it was clearly necessary for the Government to put in place a regulatory framework as soon as possible.

VOD, he said, would enable subscribers to call up films and television programmes on to the screen as well as to use other services such as home banking and home shopping.

"It is important that we facilitate this development, while considering its impact on the market, and meeting the legitimate expectations of people that the content should be properly regulated," he said.

Mr Chau hoped to publish the regulatory proposals in late February or early March and to amend the Television Ordinance before the end of the current legislative session.

Completing the review of the deregulation of the pay television market is Mr Chau's second priority.

The Recreation and Culture Branch has already completed a comprehensive fact-finding exercise to which all broadcasters were given an opportunity to contribute, and is now studying the results of that process.

"We hope to consult the Executive Council on proposals which will be published in a consultative paper, either in March or April, and to announce the outcome of the review before the end of May 1996," said Mr Chau.