TNAG-2277-FCO40-3276-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-1991 — Page 7

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 601

OF 20042OZ DECEMBER 91

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, HONG KONG

нив HKB 301/1

pa. Melis

ра

13070

MDLIAN 3302

171

WEEKLY MEETING WITH LIU: SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION

1.

I SAID THAT THE CHINESE SIDE MAY HAVE SEEN SPECULATION IN THE PRESS IN RECENT DAYS THAT DECISIONS ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF TELEVISION BROADCASTING WERE IMMINENT. THIS WAS UNTRUE. HKG WOULD BE CONDUCTING A FULL REVIEW OF THE TELEVISION BROADCASTING ENVIRONMENT IN HONG KONG WHICH WOULD BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS' TIME. THE REVIEW WOULD COVER THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXISTING TELEVISION BROADCASTERS AND THE FUTURE SUBSCRIPTION

TELEVISION SERVICES: THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGES TO THE LICENCES CURRENTLY HELD BY THE TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTING COMPANIES (ATV AND TVB): AND WHETHER SATELLITE-BASED CANTONESE BROADCASTING WOULD BE PERMITTED IN HONG KONG AND, IF SO, WHEN AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS.

2.

I SAID THAT HKG WERE STILL CONSIDERING THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION, AND THAT I EXPECTED TO BE IN A POSITION TO BRIEF THE CHINESE SIDE ABOUT THE PROPOSED FRAMEWORK

EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR.

3. I ADDED THAT AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE REVIEW, INVITATIONS TO BID FOR SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION LICENCES WOULD BE ISSUED. NO

DECISIONS WOULD BE TAKEN ON THE DETAILED TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR SUCH LICENCES BEFORE THE REVIEW WAS FINISHED. THE CHINESE SIDE

WOULD BE CONSULTED IN THE USUAL WAY BEFORE ANY LICENCE AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED.

4. LIU MADE NO COMMENT.

PAUL

YYYY

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CONFIDENTIAL