HONG KONG, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Digital broadcasting will cover half of Hong Kong's population at its initial launch, up to 75 percent by the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the whole city by 2011, an official said here Saturday.

Speaking on a radio show, Principal Assistant Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Kevin Choi said analogue broadcasting will be switched off in 2012 in Hong Kong subject to further market and technical studies.

He explained that the digital switchover will solve reception problems such as snowing or ghosting, offer more programming choices, improve audio-visual quality and enable broadcasters to test new services on the digital platform.

Choi said that two local television station will simulcast their existing four television program channels in digital format, and launch new free channels in both standard- and high-definition formats. The two stations will still air the four existing channels in analogue format so viewers can choose when to switch to digital broadcasting according to their own needs and at their own pace.

Choi said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is considering ending analogue broadcasting in 2012, taking into account the public's acceptance of digital services.