TNAG-2766-FCO40-3983-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 66

BACKGROUND NOTE

1.

These three questions were clearly inspired by the recent Article XIX/Hong Kong Journalists' Association report entitled "Urgent Business: Hong Kong, Freedom of Expression and 1997".

2. All aspects of the law relating to freedom of expression are being reviewed by Hong Kong Government. A Bill amending certain provisions of the Television Ordinance which have a bearing on freedom of expression was introduced into LegCo this month (January 1993).

3. We and Hong Kong Government consider that corporatisation is the best policy for RTHK, but this policy ran into severe domestic political difficulties in Hong Kong and the Chinese raised strong objections. Hong Kong consider that now is not the right time to introduce legislation.