ENG-1989 — Page 338

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

286

September 1988 and on the closing date of February 28, 1989 - four proposals had been received. These proposals were carefully evaluated by the Broadcasting Authority and the government, with assistance from consultants employed to advise on the financial and technical aspects. In August it was announced that the government had accepted the offer of Hong Kong Cable Communications Limited, a consortium of local and overseas interests, to establish the CTV system.

By the end of the year work on the legislation and licences necessary to govern the CTV system was well in hand, and is expected to be finalised in the early part of 1990. Following enactment of the legislation and the issue of licences, the consortium will start the construction of the system as part of an investment that is expected to top $4 billion.

The broadcasting facilities and cable network are expected to take about five years to complete, although cable broadcasting will start as early as 1991. Upon completion most of Hong Kong's population will have access to CTV. The service will eventually comprise over 20 channels of news, entertainment, music, sports, educational and other programmes. In addition, a number of channels will be reserved for government use, and may be utilised by organisations such as the Open Learning Institute.

A multi-channel CTV system will increase the range of broadcasting services available to the public, and provide opportunities for televising events which would not otherwise be covered by the existing TV stations. CTV will also be able to serve the various minority groups in Hong Kong. The government expects that the increased competition in TV -broadcasting will contribute to the development of the industry.

The CTV network, which will employ a high proportion of state-of-the-art fibre optic technology, may also be used for the provision of non-franchised telecommunications and interactive services, to be provided by the consortium with the approval of the Telecommunications Authority.

Sound Broadcasting

Radio news reporting came into its own with the dramatic events in Beijing in April, May and June. RTHK and Commercial Radio excelled in providing up-to-the-minute news coverage, at times adapting their normal programme schedules to cope with the pace of developments and the intense interest of their Hong Kong listeners.

Ten radio channels were broadcasting in Hong Kong up to October 1989 - five operated by RTHK, three by the Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company (Commercial Radio), and two by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS). In late 1989, a new Traffic Channel was established. A new channel for Chinese-language cultural programmes came into operation, increasing the number of RTHK channels to seven.

During the year, a new VHF transmitter network was completed providing seven territory-wide FM stereo services to replace the original fragmented coverage. Three services are operated by RTHK on the new network and two by the existing Commercial Radio, while two have been reserved for a new commercial broadcaster expected to be licensed in 1990. AM services were also re-organised with two new channels coming into operation. Under its new licence, Commercial Radio was authorised to broadcast one service on AM. The second licensee will also be able to operate one service on AM.

Radio Television Hong Kong (Radio)

RTHK, a publicly-funded station, is charged with providing balanced and objective broadcasting services to inform, educate and entertain the people of Hong Kong. Its news and public affairs programmes aim to provide fast, accurate and in-depth news reports to