XN000022-1996-03-27 — Page 48

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(a)

(b)

Although Hong Kong Telecom announced plans for a range of interactive multimedia services early last year, it did not complete trials. until September. It would not have been sensible to develop a comprehensive policy on interactive multimedia services before examining the results of the trials, given that such services were not widely available elsewhere. It became clear from the trials that some multimedia services, notably video on demand, cross the traditional boundary between broadcasting and telecommunications and we therefore needed to consider the policy and practical implications of different regulatory approaches before publishing proposals for

comment.

As indicated in our consultation paper on 'Regulation of Video on Demand', we do intend to draw a distinction between those services which comprise television-type programmes, which will be regulated under the Television Ordinance under a new category of VOD programme service licence, and all other services, which would be treated as forms of electronic publishing, subject only to relevant Hong Kong laws, such as those dealing with libel and obscene and indecent material. We do not propose to formulate any specific regulatory measures for interactive multimedia services which do not comprise television-type programming. We plan to introduce legislation to regulate VOD programme services towards the end of the current legislative session, or early in the next.