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The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority and is a periodic update reflecting the outcome of deliberations as at end July 2010:
The Broadcasting Authority (BA) decided that the period of public consultation on the applications for domestic free television programme service licences would be extended by one month to September 8, 2010.
Since the launch of the consultation on July 9, the BA has received various public views and comments on the applications. Some respondents had requested more time for them to make their submissions. Having regard to the need to collect public views and to process the applications in a timely manner, the BA considered that an extension of one month would be appropriate.
The public notices on the applications published for consultation can be found at the BA website (www.hkba.hk) and members of the public may submit their views on the applications before September 8, 2010, by e-mail to ba@tela.gvo.hk; by fax to 2507 2219 (open)/ 2598 5509 (confidential); or by post to the Broadcasting Authority, 39/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wanchai.
In June and July, the BA considered three cases in respect of licensees’ compliance with the codes of practices on programme and advertising standards:
(i) a public complaint about the television advertisement for "Central Medical Diagnostic Group Limited" (宏康醫學診斷集團廣告) broadcast on Cable No. 1 Channel of Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (HKCTV) on February 16, 2010. The BA advised the HKCTV to observe more closely the relevant provision in the Generic Code of Practice on Television Advertising Standards (TV Advertising Code).
(ii) a public complaint about the television advertisement for "Grand Lisboa Macau" ("澳門新葡京酒店"廣告) broadcast on Cable News Channel of HKCTV on April 12, 2010. The BA advised HKCTV to observe more closely the relevant provisions in the TV Advertising Code.
(iii) a public complaint about the television programme "Citywalk CNY Eve Special 2010" (Citywalk 鯉躍龍門迎新春) broadcast on TVB Jade on February 13, 2010. The BA strongly advised TVB to observe more closely the relevant provisions in the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Standards.
Further details of the above cases are available in the Appendix.
The BA also noted that in June 2010, the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing (CTEL) dealt with 124 cases (583 complaints) under its delegated authority, of which seven cases (seven complaints) were classified as minor breaches and 76 cases (502 complaints) were unsubstantiated. The remaining 41 cases (74 complaints) were held to be outside the ambit of the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance. The monthly complaints figures dealt with by CTEL from June 2009 to June 2010 are shown in Figure 1. A chart showing the respective nature of the unsubstantiated complaints classified by CTEL in June 2010 is at Figure 2. A chart showing the respective nature of complaints which were classified as minor breaches is at Figure 3. Please visit the BA website (www.hkba.hk) for further information on the complaints.
Ends/Monday, August 2, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:41
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