CONFIDENTIAL 機密
XCC(81)126
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It does not appear practicable to introduce further territory- wide VHF/FM commercial broadcasting until the results of the tests are known and the plan proved acceptable. Even then, there could be arguments for Commercial Radio or RTHK to be allocated the extra channels, five existing channels now being fully committed for the FM services of Radio Television Hong Kong and Commercial Radio. Any territory-wide commercial broadcasting station set up in the near future would therefore have to operate initially on a MW frequency. This is not considered to be fully satisfactory as with the prospect of stereophonic broadcasting potential and the increasing popularity of FM reception, it is unlikely that any com- mercial radio station would be prepared to start broadcasting on MW only, without any assurance of VHF/FM frequency assignment.
Security and related aspects
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While there are no insuperable security objections per se to a small increase in new commercial radio stations limited by the maximum number of frequencies available, such stations should clearly be appropriately controlled. Should, therefore, it be decided that a competitive situation be allowed to develop in sound broadcasting as exists in television broadcasting, it is considered that more effective control of commercial radio stations should be introduced by means of legislation similar to the Television Ordinance.
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It is considered important that in case of emergency, the Government should have its own network for radio sound broadcasting. Radio, particularly on the MW service, is the most effective method of rapid public communication during emergencies such as natural disasters or civil dis- turbance, and a proliferation of commercial stations could weaken the impact of the publicity efforts of Government through RTHK. This also applies to any proposal to set up local commercial radio stations. (Although it should be pointed out that if the situation became acute, the Government could assume sufficient control over all broadcasting by means of emergency Regulations.)
Other possibilities
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(a)
Three other possible options should be dealt with concisely:
Commercialisation of Radio Television Hong Kong
While this suggestion has been mooted from time to time, it ultimately means relinquishing a Government sound broadcasting station. If RTHK was granted financial autonomy and had to make ends meet on its own even assuming this was practicable, the standard of its programmes would
G.S. 166
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