TV stations told not to cut English broadcasts

The two free television stations have been urged not to increase broadcasts in Putonghua at the expense of English language programmes.

Lawmakers also called on the Government to tighten the licence conditions for TVB and ATV in the wake of public complaints about violence and bad language in their programmes.

Their current licences will expire in November and a review is pending to decide if new conditions should be imposed.

Concluding a public forum at a Legco meeting yesterday, the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing, Eddy Chan Yu-tak, said people wanted more Putonghua programmes, which are mainly available on TVB Pearl and ATV World at off-peak hours.

At present non-English language programmes cannot exceed 20 per cent of the air time on English channels. Mr Chan said the limit had not yet been reached.

On the issue of complaints by the public, Mr Chan said: 'They feel that the level of violence is excessive. Similarly, they do not appreciate much the use of rude language or popular slang.'