RTHK role and reaction is key: Tsang
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen yesterday would not be drawn on whether he would support RTHK as the foundation for a new independent broadcaster. He said the most important thing was the role RTHK should play and its reaction to reform proposals.
The Sunday Morning Post reported yesterday the Committee on Review of Public Service Broadcasting was preparing to propose a new independent public broadcaster. Yesterday, in an RTHK interview, Mr Tsang was asked if he supported RTHK becoming the next independent public broadcaster. He replied: 'I will not, I will not, I will not - I don't see anything, why not, but the most important thing is what it should be and how RTHK itself will react to any proposals coming from the review.'
He stressed that the future of RTHK was up to the administration. 'What is important is for the review to tell us whether, a) Hong Kong should have a public broadcaster, and b) what it should do. Having decided that, we then look back at RTHK and its role.'
Sources familiar with the preparation of the report say the paper, due in the next few weeks, will propose a new, independent public broadcaster. 'RTHK has been in operation for many decades, but we are talking about a brand new body here. We should not put old wine in a new bottle,' said one source.
