RTHK should be given guidelines on Chen Shui-bian's title, a National People's Congress local deputy said yesterday. Ma Lik said the Government should issue guidelines to RTHK in the wake of a controversy involving ATV and TVB. The two commercial broadcasters were accused of self-censorship after a recent switch to addressing Mr Chen as Taiwan's leader, instead of President. Mr Ma, also secretary-general of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, said the two broadcasters had chosen a 'correct' form of address. He was adamant it was inappropriate to call Mr Chen 'Taiwan President'. 'It would give the public an impression that Taiwan is a nation the same as the United States,' Mr Ma said. At present, RTHK addresses Mr Chen as 'Taiwan's President, Chen Shui-bian'. Mr Ma said the guideline should conform to the 'one China' principle, but stopped short of saying RTHK should follow ATV and TVB. He said it could not call Tibet a country, referring to a row in which an RTHK documentary was found to have done so. A government spokesman said yesterday: 'It is not our practice to issue guidelines to RTHK regarding its news reporting.' RTHK was unavailable for comment.
