TNAG-0350-FCO40-386-Future-of-broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 5

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CONFIDENTIAL

MR ROYLE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG:

11 15 NOVEMBER 1972

TELEVISION

BRIEF NO 2

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1. On 5 March 1957, Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Limited (RTV(HK)),

a subsidiary of Rediffusion Ltd of the U.K., was granted an

exclusive licence under the Telecommunications Ordinance to

operate a wired television service, which could both originate

programmes and relay the programmes of other broadcasters.

licence expires on 30 April 1973 and does not contain a right

of renewal. In 1965, after a public tender, a licence was

granted under the Television Ordinance to Television Broadcasts

Limited (TVB) giving the Company an exclusive right to operate

a wireless television service for five years from 19 November 1967.

Thereafter the licence was to be renewable every five years on a

non-exclusive basis until November 1982.

2. The Working Party on the future of Broadcasting, set up by

the Hong Kong Government early in 1970, reported in October 1971

that a second wireless television service (which would provide for

both English and Chinese services) should be negotiated with

RTV (HK) and that a third service (Chinese only) should be put out

to public tender. The Governor in Council overruled the Working

Party's recommendation on this particular point and decided

that public tenders should be invited for the second wireless

television licence as well. Rediffusion made representations to

the FCO urging that RTV (HK) should be granted a wireless

television licence by private agreement with the Hong Kong

Government as recommended by the Working Party. RTV (HK) feared

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CONFIDENTIAL