Government wouldn't control board of RTHK successor, review team suggests The panel reviewing public broadcasting in Hong Kong is proposing the government have the power to directly name fewer than a third of its governing board - an idea sources close to the body say would minimise political interference. It is proposing the chief executive be able to choose only four board members without formal input from the public, and to appoint another nine from among nominees put forward by various professional sectors. The broadcaster's chief executive officer and a staff representative would also be on the board. The proposals, to be released this month, have been drawn up by focus groups under the committee appointed by the government in January to review public service broadcasting. The plans would protect the station's independence, sources said. 'This will reduce government or political interference in the broadcaster to a minimum,' one said. The nine nominated board members would be drawn from professional sectors such as the media, finance, the legal sector and education. Candidates could nominate themselves or groups from those sectors could make nominations. A screening committee would then pick a number for the chief executive to choose from. While the formal power of appointment would rest with the chief executive, a source said it would be difficult for the administration to reject many of the nominees without there being a public outcry. The chief executive would decide who serves as board chairman. The government would appoint the first screening committee. When the first board members' terms are up, they will screen nominees to replace them. 'We are trying to make the appointment process as open and transparent as possible,' the source said. 'The nomination process is open to the public. This is the most liberal model we can think of other than an election.' The seven-member review committee, headed by veteran journalist Roy Wong, was set up in January. The panel was not asked to look specifically at the position of RTHK, but to draw up a model for public broadcasting. Focus groups were set up last month to study governance, accountability and funding. The groups' reports will be released at a town hall meeting on September 30 at City University and then go out for public consultation. They suggest the public broadcaster be accountable to the Audit Commission, the Ombudsman, the Broadcasting Authority and the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority. They say external assessors should be appointed to review programming direction and quality. 'There will not be any pre-screening of programmes by the assessors. They will only look at programmes once they have aired,' said another source. 'The broadcaster should also report regularly to the Legislative Council, since it is funded by taxpayers' money,' this source added. The reports recommend the broadcaster be solely supported by the government in its first three years of operation, although limited sponsorship should be allowed. The intention is that the government's contribution gradually drop. Eric Poon Tat-pui, a spokesman for the RTHK Programme Staff Union, welcomed the proposed governance structure. 'It is better than the established practice of having all members of statutory bodies appointed by the government,' he said. Mr Poon said it was most important the government 'take up the whole package of proposals, rather than bits and pieces'. The review team's ideas Nine members of broadcaster's governing board to be nominees from professional sectors Chief executive able to appoint up to four other members to board Broadcaster to be accountable to Tela, Audit Commission, Ombudsman and Broadcasting Authority External assessors to review programme direction and quality Broadcaster to be fully government funded for first three years at least Donations towards costs to be solicited to foster a sense of public ownership