Mr Davies
Miss Spencer
par Media
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FROM: J Ranson
DATE: 6 June 1991
cc: Hong Kong Dept
MEETING WITH HUTCHVISION
1.
Mr Li and Lord Derwent of Hutchinsons, Hong Kong called on Miss Spencer on June 1991 to discuss their plans for satellite TV.
2.
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They started by filling in the background to their bid, including the competition for satellite coverage and the collapse of the recent Cable TV bid. The outcome of previous talks with the Hong Kong Government is that a
semi-open sky' policy has been adopted, but that the two main restrictions are to be that broadcasts are not to be in Cantonese, and that any service must not be funded on a subscription basis.
3. In December Hutchvision were formally awarded a licence and have started a 24 hour preview channel. Eventually they hope to have five channels up and running, including a 24 hour news channel, sport, music and light enterainment. The aim is to devote one channel to the BBC World Service TV, with whom Hutchvision are now in negotiation.
4.
Mr Li was at pains to point out that this is a new departure for Hutchinsons, who traditionally have their commercial base in property, posts, trading etc. They are currently responsible for about 15% of the Hong Kong stall market. It is very much in their interests to maintain a stable political and economic structure in Hong Kong after 1997, and they see a source of non-biased, accurate news information as a keystone to that aim. He appealed to the FCO on this basis, that our aims were common in this area.
5.
They have signed a preliminary agreement with the BBC to provide 5 minutes of news every hour, and free news segments of in-depth reporting and discussion programmes.
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