TVB breached licence by scrapping satirical show during Xi Jinping visit, Hong Kong regulator says

The Communications Authority received 406 complaints about station’s decision to replace the show with previously-aired footage of the Chinese president and a feng shui programme on June 30

Reading Time:2 minutes

Xi Jinping, China's president, visited Hong Kong to mark the 20th anniversary of its return to China from British rule. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 8:00pm, 30 Oct 2017Updated: 12:03pm, 31 Oct 2017

Hong Kong’s largest television station TVB breached the terms of its licence when it abruptly pulled off air a programme that poked fun at Xi Jinping and replaced it with less controversial footage of the Chinese president and a feng shui show, the city’s broadcasting and telecoms regulator ruled on Monday.

The Communications Authority strongly advised TVB to “observe more closely” the conditions of its free-to-air licence, after receiving 406 complaints about what it did on June 30, when the president was in the city to mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule.

The episode of the current affairs programme Headliner that was pulled off air also made repeated references to the imprisoned Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo.

It was produced by the city’s public service broadcaster RTHK, which complained that it was notified of the cancellation only eight minutes before the programme was due to air on TVB’s Jade channel.

Radio Television Hong Kong angry about TVB pulling satirical programme on Xi Jinping visit

But a TVB spokesman on Monday stoutly defended its decision and slammed the mandatory regulation for the station to broadcast RTHK programmes.

In a statement, the spokesman said “the authority’s decision showed complete disregard for the circumstances.”

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x