Fwd: [Review of Decision] Re: Questions about Olympic Games broadcasting rights (HAB)

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Simon H WANG

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Jun 24, 2020, 5:59:09 AM6/24/20

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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <lwk...@hab.gov.hk>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2020 at 17:58
Subject: [Review of Decision] Re: Questions about Olympic Games broadcasting rights (HAB)
To: Simon H WANG <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>
Cc: <"&HAB/EO[A]1"@remark.internal_address_not_for_reply_from_internet>, <hbz...@hab.gov.hk>

Dear Mr Wang,

I refer to your email to our Bureau dated 5 June 2020, requesting for a review of our decision on questions (3) and (4) of your email dated 16 April 2020 in accordance with para. 1.25 of the Code on Access to Information (the Code).

We regret to inform you that upon review, we maintain our decision that by virtue of paragraphs 2.1, 2.10(b) and 2.16 of the Code quoted hereunder, we are not able to provide you with the information requested –

· paragraph 2.1: A department may refuse to disclose information, or may refuse to confirm or deny the existence of information, in the categories and for the reasons set out below, which will normally be referred to if a request is refused.

· paragraph 2.10(b): Information the disclosure of which would inhibit the frankness and candour of discussion within the Government, and advice given to the Government.

· paragraph 2.16: Information including commercial, financial, scientific or technical confidences, trade secrets or intellectual property the disclosure of which would harm the competitive or financial position of any person.

If you are not satisfied with the review decision, you may lodge a complaint with The Ombudsman (address: 30/F, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong; Telephone: 2629 0555; Fax: 2882 8149; e-mail address: compl...@ombudsman.hk).

Yours sincerely,
Linda Choy
for Secretary for Home Affairs

----- Forwarded by Linda WK CHOY/HAB/HKSARG on 24/06/2020 09:12 -----

From: Shirley CI WONG/HAB/HKSARG
To: Simon H WANG <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>,
Cc: Linda WK CHOY/HAB/HKSARG@HAB, Hong Biao ZENG/HAB/HKSARG@HAB
Date: 12/06/2020 18:26
Subject: Re: Questions about Olympic Games broadcasting rights (HAB)

Dear Mr Wang,

Thank you for your email dated 5 June 2020 requesting for a review of the decision of not disclosing the information relating to the broadcast of Olympic Games.

We are processing your request and pursuant to paragraphs 1.16 and 1.25 of the Code, you will be advised further on or before 25 June 2020. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Shirley Wong
for Secretary for Home Affairs
--------------------------------------------

From: Simon H WANG <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>
To: "h...@hab.gov.hk" <h...@hab.gov.hk>, sci...@hab.gov.hk,
Date: 05/06/2020 06:46
Subject: Re: Questions about Olympic Games broadcasting rights (HAB)

Dear Ms Wong
Thanks for your reply. I think your bureau should provide some info regarding Q3 and Q4 (e.g whether the government is working on this issue) to keep the public informed about this matter. Please kindly refer this case to a more senior official.
Yours sincerely
Simon Wang

On Tue, 5 May 2020 at 18:20, <sci...@hab.gov.hk> wrote:
Dear Mr. Wang,

Thank you for your email dated 16 April 2020. One of the policy objectives of the Home Affairs Bureau is to promote the development of sports in Hong Kong. The Olympics Games represent the highest level of sports competition in the world. The opportunity of the Hong Kong public to view the Games on television would generate greater interests in sports in general, encourage more people to participate in sports, and foster wider public support for Hong Kong's elite athletes and elite sports development.

Regarding questions (2), (3) and (4) in your email, by virtue of paragraphs 2.1, 2.10(b) and 2.16 of the Code on Access to Information quoted hereunder, we are not able to provide you with the information requested.

Relevant paragraphs of the Code on Access to Information

paragraph 2.1: A department may refuse to disclose information, or may refuse to confirm or deny the existence of information, in the categories and for the reasons set out below, which will normally be referred to if a request is refused.
paragraph 2.10(b): Information the disclosure of which would inhibit the frankness and candour of discussion within the Government, and advice given to the Government.
paragraph 2.16: Information including commercial, financial, scientific or technical confidences, trade secrets or intellectual property the disclosure of which would harm the competitive or financial position of any person.

For enquiries, you may wish to contact Mr Alex Leung at 3509 8098. If you are not satisfied with the above decision, you may ask this Bureau to review the decision in writing. Alternatively, you may complain to the Ombudsman (address: 30/F., China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong; Telephone: 2629 0555; Fax: 2882 8149; e-mail address: compl...@ombudsman.hk).

Yours sincerely,
Shirley Wong
for Secretary for Home Affairs
--------------------------------------------

From: Linda WK CHOY/HAB/HKSARG
To: Simon H WANG <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>,
Cc: &HAB/EO[A]1@HAB, Hong Biao ZENG/HAB/HKSARG@HAB
Date: 24/04/2020 18:29
Subject: Questions about Olympic Games broadcasting rights (HAB)

Dear Mr. Wang,

Your application of 16.4.2020 for access to information in relation to broadcast of Olympic Games refers. Please be informed that your application is now under processing, and according to paragraph 1.16 of the Code on Access to Information, you will be advised further in relation to your request on or before 6 May 2020. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Linda Choy
for Secretary for Home Affairs

From: Simon H WANG <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>
To: lwk...@hab.gov.hk, h...@hab.gov.hk,
Date: 16/04/2020 23:17
Subject: Questions about Olympic Games broadcasting rights (HAB)

Dear Sir/Madam

I refer to the news report suggesting that the city is expected to pay HKD 546 million broadcasting fees for now-postponed Tokyo Olympic Games https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2177546/tokyo-2020-olympics-scary-cost-facing-hong-kong-broadcasting-next and also Mr. Kenneth Fok’s (the vice-president of Hong Kong Olympic Committee) call for the government to step in and secure the broadcasting right https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3052939/tokyo-2020-hong-kong-olympic-chief-urges-government-step-and-buy

Back in 2018, Mr. Edward Yau, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, said that “a mechanism is already in place to ensure that the public may view some of the matches of the World Cup and the Olympic Games free of charge” in response to the question from a legislative councillor on “whether it will discuss with organisers of large-scale international and regional sports competitions to urge them to ensure, when awarding the broadcasting rights for Hong Kong, that all Hong Kong people can watch those relevant matches for free; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?” https://www.cedb.gov.hk/speech/2018/pr06062018d.htm It is also stated that the reply was partially based on information provided by your bureau.

Here are my questions for the Bureau to answer under the Code on Access to Information.

1) In what ways is the issue of whether the HK public can watch some or all Olympic games for free related to the missions and goals of your bureau?

2) What information has the Bureau provided regarding the question raised by the Legislative Councillor?

3) Has the bureau held any meetings to discuss this matter? If so, please provide dates of the meetings and the memos or documents related to the meetings. If memo or documents are classified, please provide the reasons why they are classified. If no meeting has been held to discuss the matter, please also confirm in writing this is the case.

4) Given the possibility that the HK public cannot watch any Tokyo Olympic Games for free or for a fee, what does the bureau plan to do about this clearly undesirable situation?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Yours sincerely

Simon Wang, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Language Centre
Hong Kong Baptist University
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php

Writing for the Public Project
https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/write4public/home

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--
Simon Wang, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Language Centre
Hong Kong Baptist University
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php

Writing for the Public Project
https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/write4public/home

Simon Wang, Ph.D.

Lecturer

Language Centre

Hong Kong Baptist University

Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php

Writing for the Public Project

https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/write4public/home

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