I refer to the report headlined, 'Give RTHK guidelines on Chen title: NPC deputy' (South China Morning Post, June 4) quoting comments by Ma Lik, and I would like to state that, contrary to what was reported, no 'RTHK documentary' has ever suggested that Tibet was a country.
What did happen on one occasion was that the presenter of a radio current affairs programme quoted this view as one 'held by some people in Western countries'.
It is RTHK's firm principle to provide balanced coverage of opinions on subjects of public interest. This requirement may or may not be achieved within the same programme. But when this is not, then balance should be provided within a reasonable period of time. In this case, the following day's programme presented a thorough analysis of the Tibetan issue and relevant viewpoints involved.
On the subject of Chen Shui-bian's title, we feel this is a matter of editorial judgment.
We do not believe the treatment of the issue in our news reporting or current affairs programmes carries any implication that Taiwan is an independent sovereign state.
PETER SHIU LO-SIN
