TNAG-1556-FCO40-2120-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 10

be more relaxed than those of Hong Kong. To ensure censorship standards are not breached, the Administration recommends that the Television Authority continue to monitor programme material selectively on an on-air and off-air basis as necessary.

Religious programmes

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The BRB looked into the need to give

greater consideration to religious programmes оп television. It recommended that the Broadcasting Authority should give prior approval to the broadcast of all religious programmes, and when doing so should satisfy itself that

that the programmes are in no way offensive to the community as a whole. It should as far as possible also ensure that no one religious group has an undue amount of air time.

29

The Administration shares the BRB's view. This would ensure balance in religious material in a

material in a manner acceptable to the community. However, at present no such programmes are being shown. Under regulation 4(2) of the Television (Advertising) Regulations, licensees are not permitted to allow sponsored religious programmes to be shown. Although they may, produce their own programmes for screening, this has happened in practice because religious programmes would attract many advertisements and would not, therefore, profitable. The Administration recognizes this anomaly and recommends that the legislation should be amended to allow licensees to broadcast religious programmes made available free of charge by religious organisations subject to prior approval by the Broadcasting Authority.

FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPLICATIONS

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not

not

be

Having regard to the Administration's intention that in future only Announcements in the Public Interest

Interest will be charged to public funds (paragraph 23) there are unlikely to be any financial or staffing implications

CONSULTATION

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During the consultation period following the publication of the BRB Report, the public, industry and the television licensees have views on the BRB's proposals regarding programme standards.

the advertising expressed their advertising

and