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The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority:
At its meeting on February 21, 2009, the Broadcasting Authority approved the shareholding and ownership structure of Asia Television Limited (ATV) arising from the introduction of a new shareholder, Antenna Investment Limited, which will acquire all the 47.58% voting shares of ATV held by the existing shareholder Alnery No. 112 Limited. Antenna will be controlled by Pelaka Investments Limited (51%) owned by Mr Payson Cha and Mr Johnson Cha, and by San Want Media Holdings Limited (49%), which is wholly owned by Mr Tsai Eng-Meng. The Broadcasting Authority noted that the proposed change in shareholding and ownership structure would facilitate new investment to the company and strengthen its financial position.
The authority's approval is subject to the condition that ATV will continue to comply with all the relevant regulatory requirements applicable to it and the statements, representations, assurances and undertakings made by ATV and the undertaking made by Mr Tsai to safeguard freedom of expression and editorial independence of ATV after the shareholding changes.
The Broadcasting Authority is satisfied that the regulatory requirements under the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562) are and will continue to be complied with by ATV after the changes in shareholding and ownership structure. In particular, ATV will remain a company incorporated in Hong Kong and its control and management shall continue to be bona fide exercised in Hong Kong. The responsibility for the selection, production or scheduling of programmes is and remains to be carried out by a principal officer who is ordinarily resident in Hong Kong within the meaning of the Broadcasting Ordinance.
The Broadcasting Authority noted that the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing (CTEL) dealt with 55 cases (125 complaints) under her delegated authority in January 2009, of which four cases (six complaints) were classified as minor breaches and 39 cases (71 complaints) were unsubstantiated. The remaining 12 cases (48 complaints) were held to be outside the ambit of the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance. The monthly complaints figures dealt with by CTEL since January 2008 are shown in Figure 1. A chart showing the respective natures of the unsubstantiated complaints in January 2009 is at Figure 2. Please visit the authority's website: www.hkba.hk for further information of the complaints.
Ends/Monday, February 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:10
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