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The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
The Communications Authority (CA) will launch a one-month public consultation exercise on the renewal of the domestic pay television programme service licence (pay TV licence) of Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (HKCTV) on July 22.
As part of the public consultation exercise, the CA will organise two public hearings at Mei Foo Community Hall and Leighton Hill Community Hall from 7pm to 9pm on July 28 and August 13 respectively. Reservation for the public hearings starts today (July 20) for the first hearing and on July 29 for the second hearing. The public may call 2961 6513 or visit the website of the CA (www.coms-auth.hk/en/policies_regulations/consultations/inprogress/public_consultation_exercise_5/index.html) for details and registration.
Members of the public may also forward their views in writing on the performance of HKCTV to the CA by August 21, 2015. They may send them 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-cabletv@ofca.gov.hk.
To assist the public to give views on different areas of the performance of HKCTV, the CA has published an information booklet containing a summary of the licensee's service, complaints records and investment plan and the current regulatory requirements for pay TV service. Members of the public may collect the information booklet at District Offices of the Home Affairs Department starting from today. They may also download it from the CA website (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/en/content_970/HKCTV_Booklet_e.pdf).
In May 2004, the Chief Executive (CE) in Council approved the renewal of the pay TV licence of HKCTV for 12 years from June 1, 2005, to May 31, 2017. The CA has received the application from HKCTV for renewal of its licence. As an independent statutory body that regulates broadcasting services in Hong Kong, the CA will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the performance of HKCTV against various statutory requirements as well as requirements under its licence and the codes of practice, and take into account public views before making recommendations to the CE in Council on the licence renewal application of HKCTV by May 2016 pursuant to the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562).
Ends/Monday, July 20, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:10
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