ENG-2018 — Page 350

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Media and Communications

RTHK operates seven radio channels, with three of them using FM transmission and four using AM. The station produces 1,129 hours of diversified radio programmes in Cantonese, English and Putonghua every week, including 16 hours of radio programmes under the Community Involvement Broadcasting Service.

RTHK also operates three digital terrestrial television (DTT) channels, two of which are carried on the analogue platform as well. In 2018, RTHK produced 1,566 hours of programmes for broadcasting on its TV channels as well as free and pay-TV platforms. By the year end, 25 transmitting stations, comprising main and fill-in stations, were taking the DTT network coverage to about 95 per cent of the population. RTHK will continue to establish the remaining four fill-in stations to extend its network coverage to about 99 per cent of the population by April 2019, matching that of commercial DTT broadcasters.

RTHK produces 17 hours of new educational TV programmes for pre-primary, primary and secondary schools and operates an interactive learning platform, eTVonline. It also provides filming and technical support as well as audio and video signals to local and overseas broadcasters to air events of public interest, such as the National Day celebration and flag- raising ceremony, Chief Executive's Policy Address and ceremonial opening of the legal year.

The station harnesses the multimedia potential of new media platforms, including providing applications for smart TV as well as mobile services RTHK Mine, RTHK News, RTHK On the Go and RTHK Screen. Average daily visits of 450,000 were recorded for the RTHK website in 2018. Some TV programmes offered Nepalese and Urdu subtitles to cater for ethnic minorities.

Digital Terrestrial Television

Among the three commercial broadcasters, two make use of the broadcasting spectrum to provide digital coverage of at least 99 per cent of the population; one provides digital TV services through a fixed network that covers about 93 per cent of households. As at end-2017, about 88 per cent of households were receiving digital TV services. The government has reviewed the target date, set in end-2020, of switching off analogue TV services and will announce its decision in early 2019.

Review of Broadcasting Regulatory Framework

The Broadcasting Regulatory Framework is under review, with a public consultation completed in May. The government plans to introduce legislative amendments in 2019 to relax obsolete statutory requirements and rationalise the regulatory framework to facilitate industry. development.

Postal Services

Hongkong Post provides a broad range of reliable postal and related services at affordable prices. In 2018, it handled 1.25 billion postal items, 74.9 per cent of which was local mail.

To keep pace with the growth of e-commerce, Hongkong Post introduces new delivery solutions from time to time. The e-Express service was further extended during the year, covering 33 major destinations round the world. The number of iPostal stations citywide was

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