TNAG-0351-FCO40-387-Future-of-broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 158

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PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

FM HONG KONG 130540Z

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5.31

LOVECINZ

61

INICIC13/9

1972

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 1218 OF 13 DECEMBER INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON (FCO PLEASE PASS).

59) MY TELEGRAM 1200: TVB

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS CONSIDERED THE PAPERS ON TELEVISION. I CAN

NOW CONFIRM THE PROJECTED TIMETABLE FOR TENDERING EXPLAINED

BY MR WATT TO MR ROYLE SUBJECT TO THERE BEING NO UNFORESEEN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DELAY IN PASSING THE BILL TO AMEND THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE. EVEN IF THERE WERE SUCH DELAY, IT SHOULD NOT

EXCEED TWO WEEKS.

2. ALTHOUGH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS THUS ACCEPTED SIMULTANEOUS

TENDERING WITH DIFFERENT TENDER PERIODS FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD LICENCES, IT WAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT MEETING. WE THUS HAD TO GIVE AN UNDERTAKING THAT THE TENDER PERIOD FOR THE THIRD

LICENCE WOULD BE REDUCED, IF POSSIBLE.

3. WE SHALL BE MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE POSITION ON FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER, THE DAY THE BILL WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE. UNTIL THIS HAS BEEN DONE, I SHALL BE GRATEFUL IF NOTHING NEW IS SAID TO COL STIRLING EXCEPT TO CONFIRM THE TIMETABLE AS IN PARAGRAPH 1

ABOVE. PLEASE NOTE THIS DID NOT REFER TO THE DIFFERENT TENDER

PERIODS FOR THE TWO STATIONS. WE ARE IN VERY CLOSE TOUCH WITH TVB

AND SHOULD PREFER TO DEAL WITH THE COMPANY HERE RATHER THAN QUADRILATERALLY WITH COL STIRLING AND THE OFFICE IN LONDON: AS

YOU WILL APPRECIATE, THE DIFFERENT LARGE INTERESTS INVOLVED IN

TELEVISION ARE ALL EXERTING MAXIMUM PRESSURE ON US IN THEIR DIFFERENT AND RATHER UNPLEASANT WAYS, AND IT WOULD BE EMARRASSING

IF ONE APPEARED TO BE IN A PARTICULARLY FAVOURED POSITION.

MACLEHOSE

COPY TO: HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

LONDON

FILE S HKIOD

IAD

PS TO MR ROYLE SIR E NORRIS

CONFIDENTIAL