WHAT is the nature of Radio Television Hongkong (RTHK)? What direction and style has RTHK adopted? It is not difficult to determine the role of RTHK by examining its recent moves and acts: the importance of the mass media during the recent years of change in the international situation, the change in attitude of the British Government towards China and the crisis in Hongkong after the release of Governor Mr Chris Patten's reform package.
Recently, RTHK took a dangerous first step with an interview with Chinese dissident Wang Ruowang broadcast on Channels One, Two and Five.
Wang has been expelled from the Communist Party but continues his opposition to communism, the Chinese Government and the socialism in mainland China.
During the interview, Wang claimed the Chinese political system adopted a ''traditional and patriarch'' style. He attacked China's senior leader, Mr Deng Xiaoping, and his reform policy. Wang even attacked the modernisation of China and the principle of ''one country, two systems''. He stated that the prosperity of mainland China and the policy of ''Hongkong people ruling Hongkong'' were deceptions by the Chinese Government.
Wang has announced the merger of the Paris-based Federation for Democracy in China and the US-based Alliance for Democracy in China to form a united front to topple the communist government in Beijing. He was proud of his revolt against Chinese communismand proposed that anti-China forces unite to do battle and subvert the Beijing authorities.
It was unbelievable that the RTHK interviewer stated that the fate suffered by Wang ''fully represented the fate of the Chinese intellectuals in this century'' and even hoped ''the intellectuals from Wang's generation move forward to expand their influence by criticising the government as well as to take up the responsibility to work for society''. These statements were rather inflammatory.
On December 23, RTHK broadcast an incoming call from Foshan on the mainland praising and supporting the United Democrats of Hongkong (UDHK). This showed RTHK was trying to interfere in the internal as well as political affairs of China. THIS was a dangerous beginning, indicating RTHK has involved itself in the international anti-Chinese and anti-communism campaign. Being a station under the control of the Hongkong-British Government, RTHK is now following the anti-communist route of the British Government. This is a political gamble and at stake is the fortune and future of Hongkong.