1965 — Page 295

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

1382

Page 295 of 382

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN:-I thought Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's answer to the question was rhetorical. (Laughter).

(7) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-

(a) Will you tell this Council what arrangements your department made for the Annual Conventional Debate to be covered by the press, radio and television?

(b) What facilities are normally provided for the broadcasting and television services when Council meetings are held?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

The Information Services Department made the usual arrangements for giving publicity to the debate. This included direct press coverage, radio news bulletins and the translation of Members' speeches into Chinese for issue to the Chinese press and broadcasting services.

The invitation to the press to cover the debate included broadcasting but this was linked with the provision of the text of speeches to be made, together with a Chinese translation in the case of the Chinese services. The Information Services Department has always made every effort to obtain the text of Members' speeches in sufficient time for them to be translated into Chinese. It is appreciated that some Members do not wish to provide copies of their speeches in advance; in that case good coverage cannot be expected. The provision of material for radio news bulletins is a separate operation. At the Annual Conventional Debate the Radio News Editor of the Information Services Department spent 7 hours covering the first two days of the debate and preparing news items. Two of his officers, one for the English service and one for the Chinese service, checked the text of speeches and took notes in cases where the text was not provided in advance. These officers also undertook the task of informing the press by teleprinter when each speaker had finished, so that copies of the speeches could be made available immediately to all news services for publication. As a result, good coverage of the debate was obtained in both Chinese and English news broadcasts.

As regards television coverage, I regret that due to a misunderstanding, arising from the belief that sound recording would not be possible because of limited space and power points, Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Ltd. were deterred from covering the first two days of the Debate. For this I must accept the responsibility. As Members are aware, the misunderstanding was corrected in time for the third day of the debate on 21st December and I am glad to say that, from the unofficial side, at least the photogenic features of Dr. Raymond LEE appeared on television screens throughout Hong Kong.

The management of Rediffusion have been told that every possible facility will be made available to them to cover such future meetings of the Council as they consider to be worthy of their attention.

MR. SALES: Sir, may I through you, thank the Government Information Services Department for the excellent work that they did on the occasion of the Annual Debate, and I think this tribute has been earned on more occasions than one. Now may I refer you to the particular paragraph concerning television coverage. Is the word “deterred” which you have chosen to give in your explanation the correct one in the circumstances?

CHAIRMAN:-In my opinion, yes, Sir.

MR. SALES: It is my understanding Sir, that they were told that there was no room for them in the debate when the unofficials spoke.

CHAIRMAN: That may be so, Sir, but I would call that being deterred. (Laughter).

MR. SALES: I should have thought the proper word would have been "prevented", virtually forcibly prevented from attending our meeting, being told there was no room for them. Could I suggest perhaps that the word "deterred" be deleted and the word "prevented" be substituted?

CHAIRMAN: No Sir, I would not agree with that, because there was no question of prevention. If the matter had been pushed energetically enough I think that possibly another outcome would have arisen in this case.

MR. SALES: Was it expected that they would be pushing or was it expected that the Government Information Services and the Urban Services Department would be in turn pushing them very hard to get them into this chamber? Which side should have pushed?

CHAIRMAN: I think all sides should have pushed. (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, is it true that there was greater pushing done to get Rediffusion television in when the Officials spoke?

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1382 Page 295 of 382 Page 295 of 382 568 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL CHAIRMAN:-I thought Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's answer to the question was rhetorical. (Laughter). (7) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:- (a) Will you tell this Council what arrangements your department made for the Annual Conventional Debate to be covered by the press, radio and television? (b) What facilities are normally provided for the broadcasting and television services when Council meetings are held? THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:- The Information Services Department made the usual arrangements for giving publicity to the debate. This included direct press coverage, radio news bulletins and the translation of Members' speeches into Chinese for issue to the Chinese press and broadcasting services. The invitation to the press to cover the debate included broadcasting but this was linked with the provision of the text of speeches to be made, together with a Chinese translation in the case of the Chinese services. The Information Services Department has always made every effort to obtain the text of Members' speeches in sufficient time for them to be translated into Chinese. It is appreciated that some Members do not wish to provide copies of their speeches in advance; in that case good coverage cannot be expected. The provision of material for radio news bulletins is a separate operation. At the Annual Conventional Debate the Radio News Editor of the Information Services Department spent 7 hours covering the first two days of the debate and preparing news items. Two of his officers, one for the English service and one for the Chinese service, checked the text of speeches and took notes in cases where the text was not provided in advance. These officers also undertook the task of informing the press by teleprinter when each speaker had finished, so that copies of the speeches could be made available immediately to all news services for publication. As a result, good coverage of the debate was obtained in both Chinese and English news broadcasts. As regards television coverage, I regret that due to a misunderstanding, arising from the belief that sound recording would not be possible because of limited space and power points, Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Ltd. were deterred from covering the first two days of the Debate. For this I must accept the responsibility. As Members are aware, the misunderstanding was corrected in time for the third day of the debate on 21st December and I am glad to say that, from the unofficial side, at least the photogenic features of Dr. Raymond LEE appeared on television screens throughout Hong Kong. The management of Rediffusion have been told that every possible facility will be made available to them to cover such future meetings of the Council as they consider to be worthy of their attention. MR. SALES: Sir, may I through you, thank the Government Information Services Department for the excellent work that they did on the occasion of the Annual Debate, and I think this tribute has been earned on more occasions than one. Now may I refer you to the particular paragraph concerning television coverage. Is the word “deterred” which you have chosen to give in your explanation the correct one in the circumstances? CHAIRMAN:-In my opinion, yes, Sir. MR. SALES: It is my understanding Sir, that they were told that there was no room for them in the debate when the unofficials spoke. CHAIRMAN: That may be so, Sir, but I would call that being deterred. (Laughter). MR. SALES: I should have thought the proper word would have been "prevented", virtually forcibly prevented from attending our meeting, being told there was no room for them. Could I suggest perhaps that the word "deterred" be deleted and the word "prevented" be substituted? CHAIRMAN: No Sir, I would not agree with that, because there was no question of prevention. If the matter had been pushed energetically enough I think that possibly another outcome would have arisen in this case. MR. SALES: Was it expected that they would be pushing or was it expected that the Government Information Services and the Urban Services Department would be in turn pushing them very hard to get them into this chamber? Which side should have pushed? CHAIRMAN: I think all sides should have pushed. (Laughter). MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, is it true that there was greater pushing done to get Rediffusion television in when the Officials spoke? Page 295 Page 296

Baseline (Original)

1382 Page 295 of 382 Page 295 of 382 568 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL CHAIRMAN:-I thought Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's answer to the question was rhetorical. (Laughter). (7) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:- (a) Will you tell this Council what arrangements your depart- ment made for the Annual Conventional Debate to be covered by the press, radio and television? (b) What facilities are normally provided for the broadcasting and television services when Council meetings are held? THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:- The Information Services Department made the usual arrange- ments for giving publicity to the debate. This included direct press coverage, radio news bulletins and the transla- tion of Members' speeches into Chinese for issue to the Chinese press and broadcasting services. The invitation to the press to cover the debate included broad- casting but this was linked with the provision of the text of speeches to be made, together with a Chinese translation in the case of the Chinese services. The Information Services Department has always made every effort to obtain the text of Members' speeches in sufficient time for them to be translated into Chinese. It is appreciated that some Members do not wish to provide copies of their speeches in advance; in that case good coverage cannot be expected. The provision of material for radio news bulletins is a separate operation. At the Annual Conventional Debate the Radio News Editor of the Information Services Department spent 7 hours covering the first two days of the debate and pre- paring news items. Two of his officers, one for the English service and one for the Chinese service, checked the text of speeches and took notes in cases where the text was not provided in advance. These officers also undertook the task of informing the press by teleprinter when each speaker had finished, so that copies of the speeches could be made available immediately to all news services for publication. As a result, good coverage of the debate was obtained in both Chinese and English news broadcasts. As regards television coverage, I regret that due to a misunder- standing, arising from the belief that sound recording would not be possible because of limited space and power points, Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Ltd. were deterred from covering the first two days of the Debate. For this I must accept HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 569 the responsibility. As Members are aware, the misunder- standing was corrected in time for the third day of the debate on 21st December and I am glad to say that, from the un- official side, at least the photogenic features of Dr. Raymond LEE appeared on television screens throughout Hong Kong. The management of Rediffusion have been told that every possible facility will be made available to them to cover such future meetings of the Council as they consider to be worthy of their attention. MR. SALES: Sir, may I through you, thank the Government In- formation Services Department for the excellent work that they did on the occasion of the Annual Debate, and I think this tribute has been earned on more occasions than one. Now may I refer you to the partic- ular paragraph concerning television coverage. Is the word “deterred” which you have chosen to give in your explanation the correct one in the circumstances? CHAIRMAN:-In my opinion, yes, Sir. MR. SALES: It is my understanding Sir, that they were told that there was no room for them in the debate when the unofficials spoke. CHAIRMAN: That may be so, Sir, but I would call that being deterred. (Laughter). MR. SALES: I should have thought the proper word would have been "prevented", virtually forcibly prevented from attending our meeting, being told there was no room for them. Could I suggest perhaps that the word "deterred" be deleted and the word "prevented" be substituted? CHAIRMAN: No Sir, I would not agree with that, because there was no question of prevention. If the matter had been pushed energetically enough I think that possibly another outcome would have arisen in this case. MR. SALES: Was it expected that they would be pushing or was it expected that the Government Information Services and the Urban Services Department would be in turn pushing them very hard to get them into this chamber? Which side should have pushed? CHAIRMAN: I think all sides should have pushed. (Laughter). MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, is it true that there was greater pushing done to get Rediffusion television in when the Officials spoke? Page 295Page 296

2026-05-13 22:01:05 · Baseline

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1382

Page 295 of 382

568

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN:-I thought Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's answer to the question was rhetorical. (Laughter).

(7) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-

(a) Will you tell this Council what arrangements your depart- ment made for the Annual Conventional Debate to be covered by the press, radio and television?

(b) What facilities are normally provided for the broadcasting

and television services when Council meetings are held?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

The Information Services Department made the usual arrange- ments for giving publicity to the debate. This included direct press coverage, radio news bulletins and the transla- tion of Members' speeches into Chinese for issue to the Chinese press and broadcasting services.

The invitation to the press to cover the debate included broad- casting but this was linked with the provision of the text of speeches to be made, together with a Chinese translation in the case of the Chinese services. The Information Services Department has always made every effort to obtain the text of Members' speeches in sufficient time for them to be translated into Chinese. It is appreciated that some Members do not wish to provide copies of their speeches in advance; in that case good coverage cannot be expected. The provision of material for radio news bulletins is a separate operation. At the Annual Conventional Debate the Radio News Editor of the Information Services Department spent 7 hours covering the first two days of the debate and pre- paring news items. Two of his officers, one for the English service and one for the Chinese service, checked the text of speeches and took notes in cases where the text was not provided in advance. These officers also undertook the task of informing the press by teleprinter when each speaker had finished, so that copies of the speeches could be made available immediately to all news services for publication. As a result, good coverage of the debate was obtained in both Chinese and English news broadcasts.

As regards television coverage, I regret that due to a misunder- standing, arising from the belief that sound recording would not be possible because of limited space and power points, Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Ltd. were deterred from covering the first two days of the Debate. For this I must accept

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

569

the responsibility. As Members are aware, the misunder- standing was corrected in time for the third day of the debate on 21st December and I am glad to say that, from the un- official side, at least the photogenic features of Dr. Raymond LEE appeared on television screens throughout Hong Kong.

The management of Rediffusion have been told that every possible facility will be made available to them to cover such future meetings of the Council as they consider to be worthy of their attention.

MR. SALES: Sir, may I through you, thank the Government In- formation Services Department for the excellent work that they did on the occasion of the Annual Debate, and I think this tribute has been earned on more occasions than one. Now may I refer you to the partic- ular paragraph concerning television coverage. Is the word “deterred” which you have chosen to give in your explanation the correct one in the circumstances?

CHAIRMAN:-In my opinion, yes, Sir.

MR. SALES: It is my understanding Sir, that they were told that there was no room for them in the debate when the unofficials spoke.

CHAIRMAN: That may be so, Sir, but I would call that being deterred. (Laughter).

case.

CHAIRMAN: I think all sides should have pushed. (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, is it true that there was greater pushing done to get Rediffusion television in when the Officials spoke?

1965 — Page 295

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