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The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
The Communications Authority (CA) today (September 15) launched a two-month public consultation exercise on the renewal of the analogue sound broadcasting licences (licences) of Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited (CRHK) and Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited (Metro).
As part of the public consultation exercise, the CA will organise two public hearings at Leighton Hill Community Hall and Mei Foo Community Hall from 7pm to 9pm on October 9 and 30 respectively. Reservation starts from today for the first hearing and from October 10 for the second hearing. The public may call 2961 6335 or visit the website of the CA at www.coms-auth.hk/en/policies_regulations/consultations/inprogress/public_consultation_exercise_4/index.html for details and registration.
Members of the public may also forward their views in writing on the performance of CRHK and Metro to the CA by November 14. 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-crhkmetro@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, investment plans and the current regulatory requirements for analogue sound broadcasting licences. Members of the public may collect the information booklet at district offices of the Home Affairs Department from today. They may also visit the CA website (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/common/policies_regulations/consultations/consultation_exercise/Booklet_eng_20140910.pdf) for details.
In July 2003, the Chief Executive (CE) in Council approved the renewal of the licences of CRHK and Metro for 12 years from August 26, 2004 to August 25, 2016. The CA has received applications from CRHK and Metro for renewal of their licences. As an independent statutory body that regulates broadcasting services in Hong Kong, the CA will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the performance of CRHK and Metro against various statutory requirements as well as requirements under their licences and the codes of practice, and take into account public views before making recommendations to the CE in Council on the licence renewal applications of CRHK and Metro by May 2015 pursuant to the Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap.106).
Ends/Monday, September 15, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:08
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