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Synopsis :

At the official opening ceremony of the 19th General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), Chairman of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) Wee Mon Cheng welcomes the 170 delegates and observers from all over the world including Europe and America. He says that this is the second time Singapore is hosting the General Assembly. The first was 15 years ago in 1967. He hopes that young officers will learn a lot from their senior, experienced colleagues through official meetings and informal exchanges during the conference. Addressing the General Assembly, Communications and Labour Minister Ong Teng Cheong notes the great changes in mass communications brought about by rapid technological developments. With the use of computer technology in broadcast engineering, the pace of new developments will be much accelerated. New inventions like computer graphics, digital TV, high definition TV and direct satellites will have far reaching repercussions. This General Assembly has adopted direct satellite broadcasting as its special topic. In future, countries will face the prospect of receiving direct satellite TV programmes originating from points far beyond their national frontiers. Governments, broadcasters and legislators will face issues and problems never faced before. Close monitoring and exchange of views in meetings like this ABU Assembly are important. SBC is keeping a close watch on the effect of new technology on listeners and viewers. Mr. Ong also touches on the need to monitor programmes with elements of deviant, anti-social behaviour and sexual permissiveness. Such programmes might not be socially acceptable in certain societies. A balance has to be struck between popular, revenue generating programmes and serious, educational ones. He then declares the General Assembly open. President of the ABU who is also the Director General of Radio and Television in Indonesia then cites the need for more exchange programmes amongst broadcasters. He touches on the use of the Palapa Satellite for the exchange of TV news. 1983 will be World Communications Year with the United Nations calling on all countries to improve their broadcast infrastructure. ABU members should cooperate closely with one another and participate with other unions. He commends the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) for organising training programmes that have benefitted many. He also thanks SBC for its excellent preparation for the General Assembly.