ENG-1965 — Page 253

PRESS, BROADCASTING AND CINEMA

WIRELESS TELEVISION

203

The Television Ordinance, No 32 of 1964, became law in Novem- ber 1964 and the following month the Director of Information Services, ex officio, was appointed Television Authority to admin- ister the Television Ordinance in the event of a wireless television franchise being granted. The Television Authority is responsible for securing proper standards of broadcast television, particularly regarding the contents of programmes and technical efficiency of broadcasts. In this respect he will be assisted by an Advisory Board of five people. Codes of Practice, relating to programme, advertising and technical standards, were published early in February and in the same month the government invited applications by sealed tender for a licence to establish and operate a wireless television service in Hong Kong for 15 years subject to renewal at the expiry of each five-year period. The licence will carry with it an exclusive right to broadcast commercial wireless television for a period of five years from its commencement. Eight applications were made and a decision on the award of the wireless television franchise is expected to be reached early in 1966.

FILM INDUSTRY

Accurate figures for the purposes of comparison are hard to establish, but it may well be that Hong Kong is the world's largest film producing centre. The best figures available for any recent year show that Hong Kong film companies produced 310 feature films, compared with 271 made in India, 225 in Japan and 155 made by United States film companies. A variety of factors, including weather, may prevent Hong Kong remaining consistently in the lead, but it is obvious that the Colony holds a major position in the film world. Many productions are the work of small studios on low budgets, but the industry also has its moguls and its extra- vaganzas in full colour and wide screen, and these more ambitious productions have won many awards at film festivals in Asia.

Hong Kong continues to be a favourite location for film companies from abroad and during the year sequences for one major feature film and several documentaries were shot in the Colony. Producers now know that in Hong Kong they can find not only spectacular scenery and background but also the skilled technicians and modern services essential for sophisticated film work.