The civil service veteran who was picked to head RTHK even though he had no broadcasting experience will be replaced by someone from within the station when a suitable replacement becomes available, the government says.
Speaking yesterday at a meeting of the Legislative Council's information technology and broadcasting panel, the permanent secretary for commerce and economic development, Elizabeth Tse Man-yee, said the government had no intention of routinely appointing directors from outside RTHK.
Roy Tang Yun-kwong was appointed RTHK's director of broadcasting five weeks ago. A survey by the RTHK Programme Staff Union found 88 per cent of production staff opposed his appointment because of his lack of broadcasting experience.
Tse (pictured) said training had been stepped up among RTHK staff to fill management vacancies.
'If there is a suitable candidate internally in RTHK, we will launch the promotion process as soon as possible,' Tse said. 'But at this moment, we have no plan to do that.'
Concerns have been raised about whether Tang, a former deputy secretary for labour and welfare, has the ability to do the job and if he can uphold RTHK's editorial independence.