TNAG-0350-FCO40-386-Future-of-broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 52

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STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Limited

1.

2.

Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Limited is a wholly-owned

subsidiary of Rediffusion Limited, a quoted British

public Company heading a Group with assets of more

than £100 million. Rediffusion's investment in

Hong Kong, at cost, is £6,370,000.

Rediffusion established its Hong Kong subsidiary in

1947, with a commercial broadcasting service trans-

mitted by cable to subscribers. In 1957, it pioneered

the introduction of television in the colony, with one

programme, primarily in the English language. In 1963 it added a Chinese television programme.

3.

4.

The television service is distributed over a cable

network and Rediffusion was granted a licence which gave it the right not only to distribute to subscribers its own originated programmes, but also to relay the programmes of any authorised broadcasting station which might subsequently come on air. The licensed right to relay was most deliberately sought and obtained, because it was recognised that a wireless television station

would one day be established and that a cable network

could only then continue to be viable if used to distribute the programmes of the wireless station as well

as Rediffusion's own programmes.

In 1965, the Hong Kong Government called for tenders for

a television station to broadcast by aerial transmission.

Rediffusion submitted a tender, but the licence was

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