Re: Questions about Olympic Games broadcasting rights (CEDB)

[Simon H WANG]

Dear Ms Tsang

          Thanks for your reply. I think your bureau should provide some info regarding Q2 and Q3 (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 for review.

Yours sincerely

Simon Wang

On Wed, 6 May 2020 at 17:52, CCIB Enquiry <cci...@cedb.gov.hk> wrote:

6 May 2020

Dear Dr Wang,

        I refer to your request for information regarding broadcasting rights of the Olympics Games under the Code of Access to Information (“Code”) (Note) on 16 April 2020.  Further to our interim reply dated 24 April 2020, I am authorised to provide a substantive reply as follows –

Request (1)

        Commerce and Economic Development Bureau is responsible for policy matters on broadcasting.  It is our policy objectives to widen programme choice and diversity through competition, to facilitate introduction of innovative broadcasting services, and to enhance Hong Kong's position as a regional broadcasting hub.  In line with our broadcasting policy, commercial broadcasters are encouraged to act in the best interest of the viewing public for providing more programme choices.

Requests (2) and (3)

        According to paragraph 2.10(b) of the Code, disclosure of information may be refused if the disclosure of which would inhibit the frankness and candour of discussion within the Government, and advice given to the Government.  Such information may include records of discussion at any internal government meeting, or at any meeting of a government advisory body; opinions, advice, recommendations, consultations and deliberations by government officials or advisers to the Government.  Further, according to paragraph 2.16 of the Code, disclosure of 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, may be refused.  As the requested information concerns internal discussion within the Government and commercial confidences, we are unable to accede to your request to provide such information.

        According to the Code, if you consider that the above reply fails to comply with the Code, you may request this Bureau to review the situation.  You may also lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman.  The contact details of the Ombudsman are as follows -

The Ombudsman
Address:        30/F, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong
Telephone:        2629 0555
Fax:                2882 8149


Yours sincerely,
Ms Margaret Tsang
Access to Information Officer / Senior Executive Officer (Administration)
Communications and Creative Industries Branch
Commerce and Economic Development Bureau


Note: The Code is available on the Internet as a component of the Gov HK.  It can be accessed at http://www.access.gov.hk.

Questions about Olympic Games broadcasting rights (CEDB) simo...@hkbu.edu.hk to: cit...@cedb.gov.hk 16.04.2020 11:04 PM Show Details

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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    

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) 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.  

3) 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

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Disclaimer

This message (including any attachments) may contain confidential information intended for a specific individual and/or purpose. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message and notify the sender and the University immediately. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is prohibited as it may be unlawful.

In addition, the University specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through University E-mail Facilities. Any views and opinions expressed in the email(s) are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the University. The University accepts no liability whatsoever for any losses or damages that may be incurred or caused to any party as a result of the use of such information.

[Simon H WANG]

[Simon H WANG]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Simon H WANG <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2020 at 18:48
Subject: Re: Questions about Olympic Games broadcasting rights (CEDB)
To: CCIB Enquiry <cci...@cedb.gov.hk>

Dear Ms Tsang

            Thanks for your email. My students published a letter to the editor discussing this issue: 

https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3088024/help-hong-kong-secure-tokyo-olympics-broadcasting-rights-and-keep For your information.

Yours sincerely

Simon Wang

On Fri, 12 Jun 2020 at 15:40, CCIB Enquiry <cci...@cedb.gov.hk> wrote:

Dear Dr. Wang,

Thank you for your email on 5 June 2020 on your application for review for your request on the captioned.  Your application is now under processing.  According to paragraphs 1.25 and 1.16 of the Code on Access to Information, we will inform you of the latest progress of the case separately on or before 24 June 2020.  In the meantime, please contact me at 3655 5541 if you have any enquiry.

Yours sincerely,
Ms Margaret TSANG