MEASURES should be introduced to end cross-media ownership after a law on the issue is passed, the Hong Kong Journalists' Association said yesterday.
Association chairman Daisy Li Yuet-wah, was responding to a comment from the Governor, Chris Patten, who said the new media law would not carry retrospective power.
''Nobody should be punished for an offence that was committed before the implementation of a new law, but we cannot let the offence carry on after the law has been passed or this will render the legislation meaningless,'' Ms Li said.
The association is looking at options to handle cases of existing cross-media ownership and will submit its opinions to the Government on the completion of the law drafting process.
One of the options is to allow a grace period for media owners to sell part of their stake.
The issue of cross-media ownership drew attention after Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok Hock Nien announced his purchase of a 34.9 per cent stake in South China Morning Post (Holdings) last month. Mr Kuok also has a stake in TVB.
