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service and Cantonese were nonetheless very important to the BBC. A
subscription service allowed for encryption, which was necessary in the case of high value prestige programmes. Mr Li said there might
be less of a problem on the subscription issue, since the present restrictions were related to exclusivity for a cable TV venture
which had collapsed. New people were now overseeing policy in this
area and Hutchison would be in touch with them.
7.
Concluding the meeting Miss Spencer made it clear that she could
offer no prospect of a financial subvention (the last point in the
Hutchison paper), as she had said before. We would reflect
carefully on the other points that had been raised and would be in
touch again soon. It was important that Hutchison should continue to pursue in Hong Kong the issues of subscription and Cantonese
services. Thanking Miss Spencer for the meeting Lord Derwent said
that time was short. Final agreement was likely to be signed very soon but the project could not be implemented until Hutchison and WSTV had the assurances which they were seeking.
8. The meeting concluded at 1810 after Hutchison had shown a short
promotional video about their proposed service from Asiasat ("Star
TV").
Information Department
28 June 1991
cc Miss Spencer
Mr Burns
Mr Paul, Hong Kong Department
Mr Harris, Information Department
Mr Bourke, ESED (for Section 4 of attached paper)
News Department
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