public affairs. This is shown by the comparison between Appendix D which shows the breakdown of Commercial Radio's weekly broadcasting time and Appendix E showing RTHK's. On the other hand, through commercial sponsorship Commercial Radio is able to produce more expensive programmes e.g. live broadcasts of popular concerts, which RTHK does not put on because of the limitations of public funds and constraints on seeking commercial sponsors.
17
Ideally, the licensee of any further commercial sound broadcasting station should be required to provide the full spectrum of sound radio. This stipulation was one of the factors that led to the demise of CTV. Such a requirement would not be attractive financially and without specific stipulations in the licence, it is likely that an extra commercial station could only add to the more popular type of entertainment on which Radio 2 and 3 of RTHK and Commercial Radio are already focussing. It would initially provide merely a wider selection of the same types of programmes rather than a choice of
different programmes. There would still be a basic music/news/talks
format although the emphasis might shift from time to time to catch the changing whims of public taste. For a new station to become financially viable, it would have to secure an audience through popular programming and as such it is inevitable that a new licensee would have to concentrate on presenting popular programmes, which would ensure that commercial broadcasting stations would have little diversification and variety in their programming.
Code of practice on radio broadcasting standards
18
Radio, compared to television, has not presented significant problem of programme standards, although a need to tighten up the control of the broadcast of film advertisements has been recognised. However, there have been a significant number of complaints against advertisements broadcast on Commercial Radio, and the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing considers tighter control both desirable and necessary. The Commissioner, who is responsible for administering the licence for commercial sound broadcasting, intends to prepare codes of practice relating to programme and advertising standards as stipulated in 7(9)(ii) of the licence to establish Commercial Radio.
VHF/FM Transmission-availability of extra frequencies
19
Since 1978, Hong Kong has had 7 MW frequencies, five of which are now occupied by existing services of RTHK (2) and Commercial Radio (3), leaving a potential spare capacity of 2 channels. On 10th July 1979 the Governor in Council decided after consideration of memorandum XCC(79)72 which proposed inter alia the development of VHF/FM services in Hong Kong:
G.S. 166
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