HKK 16/2
CONFIDENTIAL
이다:
FOREIGN AND COMMON EALTH OFFICE
LONDON SW1
13 April 1972
Sir Hugh Norman-Walker KCMG OBE JP
Colonial Secretary
HONG KONG
WIRELESS TELEVISION
1.
We promised in FCO telegram No to send you a full account of what Mr Dennis said when he called on us (Michael Laird was present) on 11 April!
when
V
2. Mr Dennis spoke at length about what Rediffusion International Ltd believed to be unfair treatment being meted out to RTV (HK), a British owned subsidiary company, which had pioneered television/in Hong Kong, which had invested large sums in the Colony in providing what was technically an "essential service" and which how looked like being put out of business by the Hong Kong Government. He explained that following the report of a Working Party (he was clearly referring to the report of the Working Party on the Future of Broadcasting of which we have a copy with Executive Council Memorandum XCC(72)14) it was widely pumoured and he could not substantiate this that the Executive Council had decided not to accept one of the Working Party's recommendations that RTV(HK) should be awarded by hegotiation one of the new wireless TV licences. Executive Council had decided, he had heard, that no licence should be awarded except after the procedure of going to public tender. He said that if his information was correct this could producera situation which would be nothing short of disastrous to RTV/HK)'s and, he thought, the public interest. If all contestants for the licences were starting from the same base it would be a perfectly satisfactory arrangement, but this was not the case. He then made the point recorded in our telegram that RTV(HK) had held a licence for many years and it would not be equitable if their considerable investment and services over the years were not taken into account.
CONFIDENTIAL
13.
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