TONGA

MEDIA OPERATORS ACT 2003
No. 4 of 2003.

I assent,

TAUFA'AHAU TUPOU IV,
24th November, 2003.

Arrangement of Sections
1. Short title
2. Interpretation
3. Restriction on issuing of media licences
4. Expiration of existing licence
5. Offences

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AN ACT
RELATING TO LICENSING OF MEDIA OPERATORS

[29th of July 2003.]

BE IT ENACTED by the King and Legislative Assembly of Tonga in the Legislature of the Kingdom as follows:

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Media Operators Act 2003.

Interpretation

2. In this Act unless the context otherwise requires -

"alien" means a person who is not a Tongan subject;

"media operation" means the operation of a newspaper,

"newspaper" includes a publication issued periodically or at intervals whether regular or irregular containing news, intelligence, reports of occurrence or any remarks, observation or comments, in relation to such news, intelligence, reports of occurrence or to any other matter of public interest printed in any language and published for sale or free distribution.

Restriction on issuing of media licences

3. Any licence required by law for trading or operating of any media operation shall not be granted to or held by -

(a) an alien or representative of any alien;

(b) any corporation incorporated under the laws of any foreign state;

(c) any corporation of which more than 20 percent of the shares is owned or voted by aliens or their representatives or by a foreign government or representative thereof or by any corporation incorporated under the laws of a foreign country;

(d) any corporation directly or indirectly controlled by any other corporation of which more than 20 percent of the shares is owned or voted by aliens, their representatives, or by a foreign Government or representative thereof, or by any corporation incorporated under the laws of a foreign country.

Expiration of existing licence

4. Any trading licence for a media operation held by a person referred to in section 3, when this Act comes into effect continues until the current licence expires.

Offences

5. Any media operator who contravenes this Act commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years and in the case of a corporation to a fine not exceeding $20,000.

Passed in the Legislative Assembly this 29 day of July, 2003.

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TONGA

LAO KI HE KAU FAKAHOKO ONGOONGO
Fika 4 'o e 2003.

'Oku ou loto ki ai,

TAUFA'AHAU TUPOU IV,
24 'o Novema, 2002.

Fakahokohoko 'o e Ngaahi Kupu

1. Hingoa nounou
2. 'Uhinga'i lea
3. Fakangatangata ki he tukuatu 'o e ngaahi laiseni ki he fakahoko ongoongo
4. 'Osi 'o e laiseni lolotonga
5. Ngaahi hia

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KO E LAO
FEKAU'AKI MO HONO LAISENI 'A E KAU
FAKAHOKO ONGOONGO

[29 'o Siulai 2003]

'OKU TU'UTU'UNI 'e he Tu'i mo e Fale Alea 'o Tonga 'i he Fakataha Alea 'a e Pule'anga 'o pehe:

Hingoa nounou

1. 'E ui 'a e Lao ni ko e Lao ki he Kau Fakahoko Ongoongo 2003.

'Uhinga'i lea

2. 'I he Lao ni tukukehe ka 'i ai ha 'uhinga kehe 'i hono tu'u'anga-

"taha muli" 'oku 'uhinga ki ha taha 'oku 'ikai ko ha taha Tonga;

"fakahoko ongoongo" 'oku 'uhinga ki hono fakalele 'o ha nusipepa;

"nusipepa" 'oku kau ki ai ha pepa 'oku pulusi fakataimi pe 'i ha vaha'a taimi tatau ai pe pe 'oku fakataimi pau pe 'ikai 'oku 'i ai ha ongoongo, fakamatala, ngaahi lipooti 'o ha me'a 'oku hoko pe ngaahi lea (remarks), vakai (observation) pe ngaahi lau (comments) 'o felave'i mo e ngaahi ongoongo, fakamatala, ngaahi lipooti 'o e ngaahi me'a 'oku hoko pe ha me'a kehe 'oku lelei ki he kakai 'oku paaki 'i ha fa'ahinga lea pea pulusi ke fakatau atu pe tufaki ta'e totongi.

Fakangatangata ki he tukuatu 'o e ngaahi laiseni ki he fakahoko ongoongo

3. Ko ha laiseni 'oku fiema'u 'e ha lao koe'uhi ko ha fefakatau'aki pe fakalele 'o ha fakahoko ongoongo kuo pau 'e 'ikai ke foaki pe ma'u 'e ha-

(a) taha muli pe fakafofonga 'o ha taha muli;

(b) kautaha 'oku fokotu'u 'i he lao 'o ha Pule'anga muli;

(c) kautaha 'a is 'oku lahi hake 'i he peseti 'e 20 'o hono ngaahi 'inasi 'oku ma'u pe paloti 'e he kau muli pe honau ngaahi fakafofonga pe 'e ha Pule'anga muli pe fakafofonga 'o is pe 'e ha kautaha kuo fokotu'u 'i he ngaahi lao 'o ha Pule'anga muli;

(d) kautaha 'oku pule'i fakahangatonu pe ta'efakahangatonu 'e ha kautaha kehe 'a is 'oku lahi hake 'i he peseti 'e 20 'o hono ngaahi 'inasi 'oku ma'u pe paloti 'e ha kau muli, honau ngaahi fakafofonga, pe 'e ha Pule'anga muli pe fakafofonga 'o ia, pe 'e ha kautaha kuo fokotu'u 'i he ngaahi lao 'o ha fonua muli.

'Osi 'o e laiseni lolotonga

4. Ko ha laiseni fefakatau'aki 'oku ma'u 'e ha taha 'oku lave ki ai 'a e kupu 3, 'e hoko atu is kae 'oua kuo 'osi 'a e laiseni lolotonga.

Ngaahi hia

5. Ko ha taha fakahoko ongoongo 'oku ne maumau'i 'a e Lao ni 'oku ne fakahoko ha hia pea 'e ala mo'ua ki ha tautea pa'anga 'o 'ikai laka hake 'i he $5,000 pe ngaue popula 'o 'ikai laka hake 'i he ta'u 'e 3 pea kapau ko ha kautaha ki ha tautea pa'anga 'o 'ikai laka hake 'i he $20,000.

Na'e tali 'i he Fale Alea 'i he 'aho ni 29 'o Siulai, 2003.

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