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The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority:
The Broadcasting Authority (BA) is planning to work with a local university to carry out a research study on the benchmarks relating to the use of language in broadcasting. To gauge the views of people from all walks of life in this aspect, the authority appeals to interested members of the public to join its Television and Radio Consultative Group (TRCG).
The Broadcasting Authority today (November 22) released the findings of the Broadcasting Services Survey which showed that 35.8% of the free TV viewers in the respondents had come across offensive material in either television programmes or advertisements. The corresponding figures for pay TV viewers and radio listeners were 26.8% and 16.7% respectively.
The same survey, however, indicated that nearly 70% of the free TV and pay TV viewers and 77% of the radio listeners considered the current programme standards appropriate. Of the remainder, more tended to find the current standards lenient. The key concern was related to the use of language.
The survey also found that respondents highly valued the importance of protecting children from unsuitable material. A total of 93.3% of those respondents with children in the households who had watched "PG" (Parental Guidance) programmes said that the children had been accompanied by adults in the households for watching such programmes.
Apart from collaboration with the university to carry out research, the authority will strengthen its communication with its TRCG and the broadcasting industry to keep abreast of the community's perception of broadcasting standards, including the protection of children from undesirable broadcasting content.
The TRCG was established in 1982. It comprises about 540 members recruited with reference to the population profile of age, sex and occupation of different districts in Hong Kong. The authority is now recruiting members of the new term starting from January, 2008. Interested members of the public are welcome to apply to join the TRCG.
To achieve better understanding of the community's perception and views on broadcasting standards and to ensure that its work meets public aspirations, the Broadcasting Authority will regularly arrange for focus group discussions, visits to TV and radio stations, and exchange views with the TRCG members via email or telephone.
The survey also indicated that 73% of the respondents recognised the authority as an avenue for dealing with complaints on content broadcast on TV and radio. A total of 36% of the respondents would not lodge any complaint on broadcasting contents. For the rest of the respondents, more of them (71%) would prefer filing complaints to the authority while 25% preferred lodging complaints directly with TV and/or radio stations.
To enhance public understanding of the authority's work in dealing with complaints, the authority will regularly release complaint statistics and investigation results on its website.
The survey was conducted from March to June this year. The main objectives were to track the trends in television viewing habits and radio listening habits of Hong Kong audiences and to gauge their views on the regulation of different types of broadcasting services in Hong Kong. Since its establishment in 1987, the authority has conducted several surveys on broadcasting services. A similar survey was last conducted in 2005.
The Executive Summary of the survey and the TRCG application form are available at the Broadcasting Authority website: www.hkba.hk for download. The TRCG application form is also available at District Offices.
Major findings of the survey are at Annex.
Ends/Thursday, November 22, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:06
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