There is no need to go back to the square one with plans for new free-TV licences if deliberations are not completed in the term of the present government, the commerce minister said yesterday.
Gregory So Kam-leung said the incoming cabinet of Leung Chun-ying could carry on the job with no requirement for new recommendations from the Communications Authority.
'If the Executive Council cannot finish it in time, there is no need for the [authority] to redo all things and re-submit recommendations to the new executive council for consideration,' So told legislators.
The minister was speaking at a meeting of the Legislative Council information technology and broadcasting panel, at which members criticised the government for dragging its feet and expressed fears that the free-TV issue would have to go back to the drawing board if the government could not issue new licences before its term ends this month.
Two of the free-TV applicants - PCCW and City Telecom (CTI) - also said a delay of up to 30 months was unreasonable.
So maintained that the government was following established procedure in handling the applications.