TNAG-1555-FCO40-2119-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 8

and method

method of appointing or selecting the Chairman of the Authority will be drawn up prior to seeking the Council's advice on the legislative

needed to permit the creation of the Authority.

28.

amendments

The Administration recommends that the terms of reference of the Authority be broadly similar to those proposed by the BRB, namely :

(a)

(b)

and that Licensing Authority.

to secure proper standards of broadcasting with regard to

to both programme content and technical efficiency of broadcasts; and

to administer the provisions of the

Ordinance (or a

Television

Broadcasting Ordinance);

future

the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment (CTEL) should become the executive arm of the

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The extent to which the fúture Authority should exercise powers delegated to it by the Executive Council (for example, the power to award broadcasting licences or the initiation of major broadcasting policy changes) or by the Legislature has yet to be considered in detail. Again, detailed proposals on the scope of the Authority's powers will be submitted to the Executive Council in the form of draft legislation.

30

It is also proposed that if a Broadcasting Authority is to be created, sound radio broadcasting and cable television should be brought within its ambit. This will require changing the existing Television Ordinance into a wider Broadcasting

Ordinance.

Timetable

31

It is proposed that if the creation of a Broadcasting Authority is approved, this Authority should come into existence at the start of the next television licensing period in December 1988. The

The Administration also proposes that in order to effect a smooth transition from the present Television Advisory Board to the future Broadcasting Authority, consideration be

be given to expanding the membership of the Television Advisory Board and giving it a more influential role in the intervening period. The Executive Council's advice on proposals to upgrade the TVAB will be sought later this year.