ENG-2009 — Page 433

Communications, the Media and Information Technology | 361

to review the broadcasting policy and regulatory regime in light of technological and market convergence as well as new services coming on stream.

The Government encourages the deployment of digital terrestrial television broadcasting technology in Hong Kong to enhance spectrum efficiency and enable the provision of new services such as high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasting. The two incumbent terrestrial broadcasters, Asia Television Limited and Television Broadcasts Limited, officially launched digital terrestrial television, including the broadcasting of free HDTV programmes and channels, on December 31, 2007. They extended digital coverage to 75 per cent in early August 2008 which enabled more Hong Kong people to receive digital broadcasts of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. The digital terrestrial television is well accepted by the viewing public. According to a public survey conducted in December 2009, more than 46 per cent of Hong Kong households are receiving digital television via set-top boxes, integrated digital television sets and computers. The two broadcasters further expanded the digital coverage to 85 per cent by end-2009 and will continue to extend the digital network to achieve almost full coverage by 2012.

To plan ahead for the development of mobile multimedia services, the next wave of advance in broadcasting technologies, the Government completed two public consultations on mobile TV and related digital broadcasting services in 2007 and 2008. Taking into account views received from the public and the industry, international trends and technological advances, the Government formulated the framework for development of mobile TV services and announced details on spectrum availability, allocation, assignment and licensing arrangements. OFTA plans to release the concerned spectrum for broadcast-type mobile TV services by way of auction in 2010.

In September 2009, the Government announced the way forward in respect of the development of public service broadcasting in Hong Kong. RTHK is to be tasked to take up the mission to serve as the public service broadcaster for Hong Kong, with safeguards and appropriate resources provided to allow it to do so effectively. In October 2009, Commerce and Economic Development Bureau conducted a public consultation exercise on how the new RTHK should operate in future to achieve its mission as the public service broadcaster, the programming direction it should take, the ways and means to evaluate its performance and enhance its accountability to the community.

Creative Industries

In June 2009, the Government set up a dedicated office entitled 'Create Hong Kong' (CreateHK) to champion and drive the development of the creative economy in Hong Kong. It co-ordinates Government policy and effort regarding the creative industries, focuses Government's resources catering for the promotion and speeding up of the development of creative industries in Hong Kong, and works closely with the trade to boost the development of creative industries.