TNAG-2763-FCO40-3980-Hong-Kong-licensing-framework-for-satellite-television-broad-1993 — Page 11

Television

PA

UNCLASSIFIED

107461

MDHIAN 4616

19

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 26140OZ FCO

TELNO 1791

OF 261236Z NOVEMBER 1993

Thank you for Your Telno 1000

2.

3.

нив 190/2

2 NOV 1993

TO COPY

On the first question, our public line is as follows:

Corporatization is still the best option. The Government recognises, however, that now is not the most appropriate time to pursue the matter. We are not yet in a position to make a final decision on whether to corporatize RTHK. In the meantime, action is being taken to safeguard staff welfare interests and to avoid management problems for RTHK arising from uncertainty over corporatization.

On the second question, we plan to enact an omnibus Broadcasting Bill in 1994 (we have a slot to introduce the Bill into LegCo for July 1994). The main purpose of the Bill is to rationalise and update the present legislation on television, at present spread out over the Broadcasting Authority, Television and Telecommunications Ordinances. On enactment of the omnibus Broadcasting Bill the Broadcasting Authority Bill will be repealed. This repeal has no relevance to 1997 and the handover of sovereignty. The provisions at present in the broadcasting Authority Ordinance will be carried over more or less intact to the Broadcasting Bill and will continue through 1997 into the SARG.

4

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.

Separately, (possibly connected with the second question) during the passage of the Television (Amendment) Bill in March this year, the opportunity was also taken to remove provisions that were not consistent with the Bill of Rights Ordinance.

PATTEN

YYYY

PAGE

1

UNCLASSIFIED