 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Taiwan cautions against reported Chinese attempt to control cable news network
Taipei, Aug 1, 2006 Taiwanese authorities said Tuesday they would not tolerate any attempt by rival China to control a television station here via a Hong Kong business. Local newspapers said China plans to acquire Hong Kong's TVB, which has a 47-percent stake in Taiwan's TVBS cable news network, sparking serious concerns from the Taiwanese government. "Should this happen we would by no means stand idly by," Joseph Wu, the island's China policy maker said. "We would handle that in accordance with the law," added Wu, head of the Mainland Affairs Council, without going into details. TVBS brushed aside the warning, saying "TVBS's operation is transparent as it is a listed company on the Hong Kong stock market. It can be verified." Taiwan's state media regulator last year fined TVBS one million Taiwan dollars (29,760 US) on charges of violating a media ownership law. Yao Wen-chih, then head of the Government Information Office, insisted TVBS had breached a regulation which bars foreign firms from controlling more than 50 percent of any domestic TV station. Yao said the restriction on foreign media ownership was necessary for Taiwan to safeguard its national security and protect its culture. Critics said the fine was retaliatory after a popular TVBS phone-in show exposed a major labour and construction scandal, allegedly involving a former presidential aide and several senior government officials. TVBS argues that it is 47 percent controlled by Hong Kong's TVB International via a company headquartered in Bermuda, with the remaining 53 percent held by a Taiwan-registered company which the government said is also controlled by TVB. The government dropped the fine after TVBS appealed to the cabinet. Taiwan and China, split in 1949 at the end of a civil war, are still technically at war despite the commencement of civil contacts in 1987. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links China News from SinoDaily.com
Hong Kong leader pushes plan to cut pollution
Hong Kong, Aug 1, 2006 Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang on Tuesday pledged to push ahead with plans to improve the city's air quality by reducing emissions from local power plants using a trading scheme. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
