TNAG-0351-FCO40-387-Future-of-broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 7

CONFIDENTIAL

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XCC(72)92

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readily available audience would reduce the commercial attraction of the new licences. It would delay the advertising of tenders several months while a new frequency plan was prepared, so probably causing RTV to close down their present services. It would mean giving TVB a monopoly of Band IV frequencies and the loss of a reserve frequency in Band V for possible future Government use. These seem decisive disadvantages.

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It is thus recommended, in the public interest, that the approved frequency plan should stand (subject to any minor modifications to it which may be found necessary as a result of the present investigation into its feasibility by Cable and Wireless), TVB changing frequencies accordingly. Members have already advised that, subject to the approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, Government should reimburse TVB with the cost of changing where this is necessary.

Mast sharing

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Council accepted the recommendation of the Working Party on the future of broadcasting that all three licensees should share aerial masts. In the first instance, this will affect the main transmitting site. But once the new licensees have brought their main transmitters into service they will be required under the law to extend their coverage to all parts of Hong Kong within three years. To do so they will have to use secondary transmitters (translators). The sites for these will also have to be shared by the three licensees. In consequence those who wish to tender for the new licences will for planning purposes need access to some of the sites now occupied by TVB. The second licensee will need it again later, to erect the new main transmitting mast and to do any necessary work on translators. Because they object to the reallocation of frequencies, TVB have so far been unwilling to agree that they will grant the necessary

access.

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It

The alternative to mast sharing has thus been examined, would be to offer the incoming licensees new sites away from those now occupied by TVB. However, Government has been advised that the additional sites would have to be spaced at least one mile away from the sites now occupied by TVB. This would lead to a proliferation of transmitting masts on hill tops (if indeed sufficient suitable sites could be found, which is very doubtful). It would also result in every television household in Hong Kong requiring two aerials, one pointing in the direction of TVB's transmitters and the other in that of the second and third licensees. These again seem decisive disadvantages.

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Neither planning nor construction work should anyway disrupt TVB's existing services. It is hoped that in the event they will therefore co-operate by voluntarily providing access to their sites for these purposes. If however they did not the sites could in the public interest be resumed to the extent necessary, provided that Members so advised under section 3 of the Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance: construction at the main Temple Hill transmitting site could proceed if a small, at present undeveloped, part of it were resumed.

CONFIDENTIAL

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