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NCC relinquishes power over China-related media

Cabinet Spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) yesterday confirmed that the Government Information Office (GIO) plans to retrieve authority over all China-related TV and radio issues from the National Communications Commission (NCC).

The Cabinet wants to take back the power on whether to approve local TV stations' requests to broadcast Chinese programs, applications for branch offices in Taiwan by Chinese or Hong Kong TV stations and all other decisions that concern radio and TV affairs.

"All affairs that concern China shall be decided by the Cabinet. So we decided to retrieve this power from the NCC and the NCC has agreed to it," Shieh said.

However, Shieh said the agreement may not become effective immediately as all the arrangements have yet to be completed.

The Chinese-language United Evening Express reported yesterday that the NCC and GIO have been in constant conflict over issues that concern radio and TV affairs.

Shieh said that the two government offices were in charge of different fields. Retrieving part of the NCC's authority relating to Chinese affairs would only help clarify each offices' responsibilities, he said.

"We just want to make sure everything is on the right track," Shieh said.

Ho Chi-sen (何吉森), a division director at the National Communications Commission (NCC), said yesterday that the commission was originally entrusted with the task of regulating programs made in China when it was founded in May last year.

Additional reporting by sHELLEY SHAN
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