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Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, in the Legislative Council today (April 23):
Question:
Some private housing estates plan to install television broadcasting systems for broadcasting to their residents information such as estate notices as well as dining and entertainment tips. The operating costs of such systems and services are to be covered by the revenue from television advertising. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:
(a) the number of applications received last year by the relevant authorities from operators of such television broadcasting systems for the waiving of a television service licence;
(b) the major factors considered by the relevant authorities in deciding whether or not to grant approval for such applications; and
(c) if the relevant authorities will consider relaxing the approving criteria concerned, so as to facilitate the residents' access to more information through such television broadcasting systems; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) By virtue of Section 7 of Schedule 3 to the Broadcasting Ordinance (the Ordinance) (Chapter 562), broadcasting of internal or security information to residents within private residential estates through closed circuit television systems shall not be regarded as "television programme services" under the Ordinance. Provision of such service is exempted from broadcasting licensing.
Nevertheless, if the service also includes programmes or advertisements other than internal or security information, provision of such service require a television programme service licence in accordance with the Ordinance.
Last year, the Secretariat of the Broadcasting Authority (i.e. the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority) did not receive any such licence application.
(b) In vetting the licence applications, the Broadcasting Authority takes into account such factors as financial and technological capacities, programme service and management of the applicant.
(c) Currently, the licensing and exemption clauses under the Ordinance allow the provision of various television programme services or internal information by private residential estates to suit their residents' needs. That said, we will review the operation of the Ordinance from time to time to meet the needs of the community and citizens.
Ends/Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:53
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