Chief Executive stresses importance of Public Broadcaster

Chief Executive Mr. Edmund Ho Hau Wah today emphasised the importance of public broadcasting in Macao, resulting in independent and objective journalism that facilitated communication and dialogue between the SAR Government and all sectors of the community. This provides effective avenues for the presentation of public opinion and social identity which the Government recognised as valuable resources, he said. Mr. Ho was speaking at the opening of the Public Broadcasters International Conference 2004 which opened in Macao today. ”In the new era of information dissemination and technological innovation, public broadcasting in the 21st century is finding itself on a new media landscape. The rationale for a public broadcasting service has extended from the traditional grounds of providing informative and educational programming for minority audience within a scarce spectrum, to the demonstration of responsiveness to public interests and demands.” He said professionals working in public broadcasting in various parts of the world had gathered in Macao to share valuable visions for the future of the service, though they were confronted with different challenges, their commitment to the same goal of providing high-quality programming was certain. He emphasised that public broadcasting had always been a very important asset in Macao. “TDM TV, the only free-to-air TV station in Macao, launched its pilot television broadcast in May 1984 and this marked the beginning of a new page in the history of public broadcasting in Macao. “Our unique historical background gives rise to the development of a local media that has been catering for the diverse needs of people with very different cultures in a relatively small city. Official bilingualism, in Chinese and Portuguese, is effectively practiced in our public broadcasting domain. This is not only playing a very crucial role in preserving the linguistic and cultural values of Macao, but also underlining our strength as the regional platform for trade and businesses with the Portuguese-speaking countries,” he said. “As you may have learned, we are currently experiencing a very rapid economic progress unprecedented in Macao. The liberalisation of the gaming industry has attracted ever more international attention to a city with less than half a million people. This has called for more pluralistic and informative programming by local public broadcaster, so that the world can know more about us.” Mr. Ho said another vital driving force in the economic development was the partnership with the Mainland, with the implementation of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. “Economic collaboration between Macao and the Mainland is further consolidated under the framework of ‘One Country, Two Systems’. “The success of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum in June this year has drawn generous response from our brother provinces and regions. In fact, our regional integration is not limited only to an economic sphere; it is also projecting to other forms of cultural and social co-operation. “The Public broadcaster of Macao has been actively involved in fruitful exchanges with their Mainland counterparts. Through informative and entertaining programmes, the multi-cultural and vibrant city of Macao is introduced to a wide audience in Mainland China. This proves to be a rewarding channel for attracting investors as well as tourists” “Under the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, residents enjoy freedom of speech, of the press and of publication; and it is against this backdrop that the media industry becomes sophisticated and well-developed in Macao. Independent and objective journalism has facilitated communication and dialogue between the SAR Government and different sectors of the community. It serves as one of the effective avenues for the presentation of public opinions and social identity, which our Government recognises as valuable resources in the course of our governance.” Mr. Ho said that though there was no locally-run commercial TV broadcaster in Macao, the public broadcasting service in Macao was competing with broadcasters in neighbouring areas, as well as with satellite and cable broadcasters. The development of digital broadcasting and other delivery platforms were also posing more questions for the future. “But Macao is not alone in this scenario” he said: “Public broadcasters worldwide are finding themselves dealing with the changing role of this public service in the aspects of content and access on one hand; and striving to improve operational efficiency and financial stability on the other. “We should not have doubt about the future of public broadcasting, rather we should give prominence to the role it continues to play in enlightening people with informative, entertaining and educational programmes,” he added.