****************************************************
Following is a transcript (English portion) of a media session by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (SCIT), Mr Joseph W P Wong, after attending RTHK¡¯s Lunar New Year Celebration for the Year of the Dog this afternoon (February 1):
Reporter: Do you think the issue (review of public service broadcasting) has been over-politicised at the moment?
SCIT: Media is always a political issue, particularly in Hong Kong. I think the important thing is, the whole of Hong Kong is firmly committed to the freedom of the press. It is very important we have a free press. It is very important we have a free media. But it is equally important, we want to have a well-defined public service broadcasting policy. I think the sole purpose of the review is to gather a group of independent and professional people to look at the existing situation, to help us define what Hong Kong needs in terms of a public broadcasting service, what is the policy, what are the means of delivery, how do we make the service providers accountable to the people of Hong Kong. This is a very important issue. I think we should give the review body an opportunity and I think we should really, if you have very strong views on this issue, express them to the review committee. The Government, I am afraid, will not be offering any concrete views on this very sensitive subject until the review body has completed its deliberations.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:07
NNNN
