As Tsang shuns questions about dropped coverage, broadcast chief denies government interference with RTHK
The chief executive yesterday brushed aside questions about his integrity after the controversy surrounding RTHK's decision to scrap live coverage of horse racing.
But the broadcasting chief said RTHK might have chosen the wrong time to announce it was dropping the coverage.
After attending an anniversary party for the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen turned away when asked about the issue. 'Do not see things in a tough way. I've always said my goal in governing is to create harmony,' he said.
On Monday, the row over RTHK's decision to drop racing deepened when Mr Tsang admitted he knew about the plan while he was acting chief executive. This prompted questions as to whether he took advantage of this knowledge in his campaign for the top post, during which he spoke of his dislike of the racing broadcasts.
Explaining the decision to halt racing coverage on one of the station's phone-ins, Director of Broadcasting Chu Pui-hing said RTHK had delayed the announcement from the end of the racing season in June to this month. This was because it did not want people to have the wrong impression that the government had interfered with its editorial independence and decision-making.
