TNAG-0350-FCO40-386-Future-of-broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 139

CONFIDENTIAL

XCC(72)14

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Future organisation of television broadcasting

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Since the decision that wireless television should be operated by commercial interests was taken as recently as 1963, after a very careful examination of possible alternative systems, the working party adopted the approach that very cogent reasons would have to be advanced if a radical departure from the existing principles were to be contemplated.

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In Chapter 3 of the report the working party examines the role and purposes of television in Hong Kong. Its role in the com- munity can perhaps be gauged by the startling increase in the number of television households since it became available to a sigLificantly wide audience, from 13% of total households at the beginning of 1968 to 61% at the beginning of 1971. Surveys carried out during the year show that this figure had risen to 72% by 1st September 1971. The working party had no means of obtaining any factual evidence on which to base a conclusion as to the actual influence of television. In fact surveys carried out in other countries operating television have not been able to reach any categorical conclusion on its influence. Nevertheless the importance of television as a mass medium led the working party to emphasise that the influence of television must not be underestimated and that constant vigilance would be required to ensure the maintenance of proper standards, particularly with regard to the susceptibilities of young people.

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The purpose of television in Hong Kong is a further con- sideration which has a direct bearing on the way in which television should be managed in the future. In Hong Kong, as elsewhere, television is primarily an entertainment medium and the working party found that material not falling into this broad category represented less than 10% of the total output. The programmes were measured against the requirement in section 26(d) of the Television Ordinance that they should "maintain a proper balance in their subject matter and a high general standard of quality." The working party believed that the aim of this requirement was to ensure the provision of a comprehensive broadcasting service that was intended to realise the generally accepted aim that broadcasting and tele- vision should inform and educate as well as entertain. The working party found that programme output fell short of this requirement because it was primarily concerned with the provision of light entertainment. Neverthe- less the working party considers that as an entertainment medium tele- vision is of particular importance in Hong Kong and fully supports the continuance of television oriented very largely towards the provision of light entertainment.

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The working party, however, recommends the retention of section 26(d) of the Television Ordinance as a long-term aim to be achieved gradually in tune with changing public attitudes and considers that too ambitious an effort to move ahead of the demands of the majority of the audience may only result in a fall in the quality of entertainment programmes.

CONFIDENTIAL