TELEVISION companies in Hong Kong are happy with the Government's ban on political commercials - despite calls for change from a legislator.
Liberal Party member Henry Tang Ying-yen wants changes to be made to the Television (Advertising) Regulations which prohibit the two terrestrial stations from running commercials of a political nature.
Said to be eyeing one of the nine new functional constituencies, Mr Tang believes access to the electronic media is crucial for candidates to run an effective campaign.
The account director of the political consultancy firm Foundation Consultancy, Catherine Choi Man, agreed that the code should be relaxed to match those in Australia and the US.
She said the geographical and new functional constituencies covered an extensive area, and advertising would be an effective way for candidates to reach their voters.
But overseas experience had shown, she said, that rich candidates who ran lots of commercials did not always win.
However, the external affairs controller of Television Broadcasts Limited, Poon Kai-tik, said he would not be asking the Government to change its policy.
