IFJ urges investigation into political interference claims at Hong Kong’s public broadcaster

 

Media Release: Hong Kong                                                             

March 21, 2013

 

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urges Hong Kong’s Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting to use the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to investigate claims of political interference at the public broadcaster Hong Kong Radio and Television( RTHK) after a senior staffer said he had experienced political pressure at the public broadcaster.

 

On March 15, RTHK staff met after the Director Broadcasting Roy Tang Yun-Kwong was accused of political interference in the editorial independence of television programmes. Although Roy Tang repeatedly denied exerting any political pressure on staff, Sze Wing-yuen, a senior staffer, said he and his colleagues had experienced political pressure on several occasions. Sze refused to explain further unless he was granted privilege under Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to reveal more about the incidents to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council.

 

One accusation related to the political satire programme Headliner being quizzed over why the programme had used Nazi characters in an episode. Tang is also accused of abruptly scrapping a programme analysing local Government policy and legislators. 

 

RTHK Union Chairwoman Mak Lai-Chan said that as RTHK is a public broadcaster it has a duty to scrutinise Government policy but it is must not serve as a “mouthpiece” of the Hong Kong Government. “We demanded Gregory So Kam-Leung, the Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, to give explain how the Bureau will deal with this matter.” Mak said. “We cannot rule out strike action.” 

 

Gregory So and other senior Government officials including the Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-Ngor have disputed the accusations of interference, instead saying it is merely a communication problem.

 

However, some Legislators have expressed concern over the accusations and a few of former RTHK staff have begun a no confidence campaign to protest Roy Tang’s alleged interference.

 

The IFJ Asia-Pacific Office said: “While the Director Broadcasting repeatedly emphasizes that RTHK is a public service, he must understand that editorial independence is crucial. Clearly, it is an extraordinary situation when a senior staffer of the broadcaster feels it’s necessary to seek privilege protection in order to tell what he knows to the Legislative Council without fear of defamation. That staffer must be granted that protection so the truth can come out.”

 

The IFJ urges Hong Kong’s Legislative Councillors to defend press freedom and uphold freedom of expression. The IFJ recommends a special meeting of the Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting to fully investigate the turmoil inside RTHK and to take steps to protect the editorial independence of the RTHK and ensure no-one engages in political interference.

 

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0950 

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

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