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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, to the media after attending a radio programme this morning (December 21):
Reporter: Mr So, will Hong Kong TV's experience of digital broadcasting beginning July next year boost its chances when it applies for free TV licence again?
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: I think there are two separate issues here. I note that Mr (Ricky) Wong also indicated the same thing yesterday. This has to be processed by the Communications Authority, so I am not at liberty to comment on how the Communications Authority would handle this. But there is only one mobile TV licence at present. I am sure the Communications Authority would take note of this fact. What I am most interested is to have more choices for the people of Hong Kong, quality programmes for people to choose from. If any of these would bring a very vibrant scene to Hong Kong using a new technology, personally, I welcome that notion and am very excited about this.
Reporter: Mr Wong said he had to hire a thousand of people. Do you think that it is a sustainable business model, according to experience?
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: I don't think it is for me to comment on this at the moment. I am quite encouraged by the announcement of Mr Wong yesterday that he would hire back the 320 employees that had been laid off previously, and on top of that he would have quite a significant number of hiring in the future. It is not for me to comment on his business plan, but any move to create more space for creativity in Hong Kong, offering quality programmes for people to choose from, I welcome those initiatives.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, December 21, 2013
Issued at HKT 13:59
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