XN000022-1996-03-13 — Page 39

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Reply:

Mr President.

Radio broadcasters are not required to broadcast Government programmes, but may be required by the Broadcasting Authority to broadcast Announcements of Public Interest (APIs) for periods not exceeding one minute in each hour. During 1995, the percentage of the available time used for broadcasting APIs averaged 41 %.

As regards television broadcasters, the Broadcasting Authority require ATV and TVB to broadcast such programmes, announcements and other material as the Authority may specify. Section 8A of the Television Ordinance sets out the time which may be used for broadcasting Government programmes. During 1995, the percentage of available time used for broadcasting Government programmes (including APIs) averaged 53%.

We are, of course, committed to co-operating with the Preparatory Committee, within the parameters announced by the Governor in his 1995 Policy Address. However, neither we, nor the Broadcasting Authority, have received any request from the Preparatory Committee Secretariat to facilitate the broadcast, during the transition period, of public affairs programmes relating to the setting up of the SAR Government. I am sure that the Broadcasting Authority would give careful consideration to any such request.

End

Registration of proprietary Chinese medicine

Following is a question by the Hon Lo Suk-ching and a written reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that in January this year the Department of Health refused to process an application for registration of a proprietary Chinese medicine used for drug rehabilitation. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

whether there is any mechanism to handle applications for the registration of proprietary Chinese medicines; if so, what are the details; if not, why not;