TNAG-0350-FCO40-386-Future-of-broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 116

CONFIDENTIAL

For discussion

on 28th March 1972

XCC ( 72 ) 2 4 99

(7 ) 2 4

Copy No

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

THE FUTURE OF BROADCASTING

On the 22nd February 1972, after consideration of

memorandum XCC(72)14, Council advised and the Governor ordered:

(a)

that public tenders be invited simultaneously

for a second wireless television licence,

which would provide for both English and

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(h)

Chinese services, and a third wireless tele- vision licence, which would provide for a single Chinese service;

that no date be specified with regard to the commencement of operations by the success- ful tenderers for the second and third wire- less television licences, other of course than the limitation imposed by the lifetime of the present TVB exclusive franchise;

that future licensees be required to make available four hours free air-time a day for the transmission of ETV programmes;

that licensees be required to provide up to seven hours air-time a week for programmes produced by Government as recommended by the working party;

that permitted advertising times be increased from seven minutes to ten minutes in any one hour, subject to the existing overall res- triction of 10% of transmission time in any twenty-four hour period;

that on the expiry of the existing exclusive licence for a wired television service held by Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Limited no further monopoly be permitted in this field;

that the working party's recommendations concerning the composition of a licensee's board of directors and the local ownership of a licensee's shares be approved, subject to examination by the Legal Department with a view to closing any possible loopholes;

that a further, shorter memorandum be prepared by the Colonial Secretariat drawing Council's attention to the principal remaining recommendations made by the working party on which a specific decision is appropriate;

CONFIDENTIAL