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The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
The Communications Authority (CA) will launch a two-month public consultation exercise for the renewal of the domestic free television programme service licences (licences) of Asia Television Limited (ATV) and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) on February 4.
As part of the public consultation exercise, the CA will organise three public hearings at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre Theatre and Sha Tin Town Hall Cultural Activities Hall from 7pm to 9pm on February 17, March 7 and 10 respectively. Reservation for the public hearings starts from today (January 27) for the Hong Kong Island session, and from February 21 for the Kowloon and New Territories sessions. The public may call 2233 9388 or visit the website of the CA at www.coms-auth.hk/en/policies_regulations/consultations/inprogress/public_consultation_exercise_20140127/index.html for details and registration.
Members of the public may also forward their views in writing on the performance of ATV and TVB to the CA by April 3. They may send it by post to 20/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen¡¦s Road East, Wan Chai; by fax to 2507 2219; or by email to consultation-atvtvb@ofca.gov.hk.
To assist the public in giving their views on different areas of the performance of the two licensees, the CA has published an information booklet containing summaries of the licensees' services, complaints records, the licensees' investment plans and the current regulatory requirements for free television programme service licences. Members of the public may collect the information booklet at district offices of the Home Affairs Department starting from today. They may also visit the CA website (www.coms-auth.hk/en/policies_regulations/consultations/inprogress/public_consultation_exercise_20140127/index.html).
In November 2002, the Chief Executive (CE) in Council approved the renewal of the licences of ATV and TVB for 12 years from December 1, 2003 to November 30, 2015. In November 2013, ATV and TVB submitted their licence renewal applications to the CA. As an independent statutory body that regulates broadcasting services in Hong Kong, the CA will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the performance of ATV and TVB against various statutory requirements as well as requirements under the licences and codes of practice, and take into account public views before making recommendations to the CE in Council on the licence renewal applications of ATV and TVB before November 30, 2014 pursuant to section 11(3) of the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562).
Ends/Monday, January 27, 2014
Issued at HKT 11:00
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