The board comprises two lawyers, a dentist, a financier, an architect, an IT expert, a consumer rights activist, an ethnic minority representative, and two veteran media workers. RTHK's head, the director of broadcasting, is an ex-officio member. The present director is Franklin Wong Wah-kay. The board is appointed by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen for a term of two years, starting next month.

Among its tasks, the board will advise RTHK on editorial principles, programme standards and service improvements. It will also receive reports on complaints and public opinion polls on RTHK's programming.

Save RTHK campaign, a group supporting the independence of the broadcaster, said yesterday that the board was clearly a tool for government interference.

'It is to make RTHK a government mouthpiece ... all members are appointed by [government]. There is no elected public representative. It will be easy for the government to do whatever it likes to RTHK whenever it wishes,' said campaign spokesman Law Yuk-kai.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association has also expressed concern. 'We do not see that the appointees have deep experience in public service broadcasting,' the association said last night.

The RTHK Programme Staff Union also feared the board could become the 'backstage ruler'.

In a statement headlined 'Today is a black Friday for RTHK', the union said a requirement that the director explain to the board whenever its advice was not followed, was an indication of the government's commitment to editorial independence.

Democrat Lee Wing-tat, deputy chairman of the Legislative Council's information technology and broadcasting panel, also expressed disappointment, describing many of the board members as pro-government.

Board chairman Lester Huang, a solicitor and current president of the Federation of Youth Groups, dismissed the fears.

'As a legal practitioner, I value and see the importance of free speech and editorial independence,' Huang said.

RTHK's Wong said: 'There is no question of the board being the backstage ruler. As the editor-in-chief, I am responsible for making the final editorial decisions.'

Board member Lau Chi-kuen, a lecturer at the Baptist University's Department of Journalism, said: 'I will try my best to work with fellow members of the advisory board and the management and staff of RTHK to ensure the station continues to thrive as a public broadcaster.'

Lau stepped down as the editor of the South China Morning Post in July last year.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan said the board members could contribute positively to achieving the missions of RTHK.

The RTHK charter

Public purposes and mission

To sustain citizenship and civil society by promoting understanding of 'one country, two systems' and its implementation and engendering a sense of citizenship and national identity;

To provide an open platform for the free exchange of views without fear or favour

Editorial independence

RTHK is editorially independent;

It will be impartial in the views it reflects, and even-handed with all those who seek to express their views, and immune from commercial, political or other influences

Relationship with the government

It is a government department; the secretary for commerce and economic development will provide the director with policy guidance and support

The board of advisers

Advises on all matters pertaining to editorial principles, programming standards and quality;

Receives reports on complaints concerning editorial principles, programming standards and quality;

Receives performance evaluations from the director and offers its advice on related matters;

The director shall report and explain to the board the reasons for not takings its advice;

The board shall maintain regular communication with the RTHK management, but will not be involved in its day-to-day operation or staffing matters.

The board

Chairman

Lester Huang, former Law Society president

Members

Dr Eugene Chan Kin-keung, former Hong Kong Dental Association president

Lisa Marie Djeng Kar-yee, a Film Censorship Panel adviser

May Fung May-gay, former member Committee on Review of Public Service Broadcasting

Ringo Lam Wing-kwan, founding president of Internet Professional Association

Lau Chi-kuen, principal lecturer of Hong Kong Baptist University's department of journalism

Maurice Lee Wai-man, vice-chairman of Hong Kong Arts Development Council

Raj Sital Motwani, former president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce

Jolly Wong Ka-chi, Consumer Council member

Marisa Yiu, architect, assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong's department of architecture

Ex-officio member

Franklin Wong Wah-kay, Director of Broadcasting