TNAG-1556-FCO40-2120-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 44

For discussion

14 October 1986

CONFIDENTIAL

Annex A

XCC (86)164 20 Copy No....

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD

INTRODUCTION

THE FUTURE OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG

54

1986,

On 4 February

having considered memorandum XCX (86) 19 which sought Council's advice on the major proposals arising from the Broadcasting Review Board (BRB) Report, the Governor in Council has provided an initial indication that, inter-alia, Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) should not be disestablished from Government and that RTHK should not be The Governor given a monopoly of TV air-time at fixed hours. in Council also directed, inter-alia, that the Administration should

in explore

greater detail the advantages and disadvantages of the following three options with regard to the future of RTHK:-

(a) the BRB's proposal for an independent public

broadcaster;

(b)

(c)

maintenance of the status quo;

an

arrangement between (a) and (b) whereby RTHK would remain a government department but would operate under a Board of Governors

as to enhance its editorial independence.

access to

Members also advised that ways of improving RTHK's prime time without resorting to a monopolistic arrangement should be examined. The findings and recommendations of the Administration are presented below.

2

This

paper

is divided

A

Part I discusses the future status of RTHK and part II the presence of RTHK on television. The detailed recommendations of the BRB on RTHK are summarized in Annex A.

into

two

parts.

CONEIDENTIAL