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The Government today (March 28) received the report submitted by the Committee on Review of Public Service Broadcasting (PSB).
The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong said: "The Government will study all the recommendations of the committee carefully and in the second half of 2007 will issue a public consultation document which will set out the Government's views on the way forward.
"The consultation document will cover all the major issues involved, including the policy and role of PSB, as well as the arrangements on governance, accountability, funding, programming and performance evaluation.
"We will allow sufficient time for all stakeholders and the community at large to deliberate the issues fully. In the light of views expressed during the consultation, we will decide on the future of PSB and its implementation details," Mr Wong said.
Mr Wong also expressed gratitude to the chairman and all the committee members for their contribution and dedication.
"On behalf of the Chief Executive, I wish to thank all seven members of the committee, in particular the chairman, for undertaking and completing this arduous task. They have examined the PSB issues in a most thorough manner, drawing on overseas experience and engaging a wide cross section of the community in the process.
"To enable the public to understand the deliberation and recommendations of the Committee, we have decided to post the full report at the website of the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau: www.citb.gov.hk for public access from 3.30pm today," said Mr Wong.
The Committee on Review of Public Service Broadcasting was set up in January, 2006. It was tasked to examine the justifications for PSB in Hong Kong's broadcasting market, as well as its role and purposes against the resources required for such broadcasting. It also discussed issues concerning public accountability of PSB on editorial impartiality, programming policy and good governance.
The committee comprises the following members: Mr Raymond Wong (chairman), Mr Chan King-cheung, Ms May Fung May-gay, Professor Leung Tin-wai, Professor Judy Tsui, Mr Mathias Woo, and the late Mr Pao Wan-lung.
Ends/Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:00
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