HK, Taiwan TV anchors face controls on mainland

They will be limited to guest roles and can't appear on more than three shows

Television anchors from Hong Kong and Taiwan will be limited to guest roles on mainland TV programmes, according to the latest edict by the state broadcasting regulator.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (Sarft) also ruled that TV anchors from the two regions could not appear on more than three consecutive shows, the Shanghai-based Youth Daily reported yesterday.

The decision is yet another heavy-handed measure by the administration, following an order in 2005 banning mainland anchors from using Hong Kong or Taiwanese accents. It also banned hosts from using 'unnecessary' foreign words and dressing flamboyantly.

In the past few years, many mainland TV stations have introduced anchors from Hong Kong and Taiwan in their chase for ratings. The imports have included Taiwan's Jacky Wu, who was hired by CCTV-4, and Timothy Chi-tai Chao, also from Taiwan, who hosts two programmes for the Shanghai-based China Business News (CBN) satellite channel.

Hong Kong star Eric Tsang Chi-wai and his daughter Bowie Tsang have also regularly hosted CCTV's signature gala show, Same Song.

Domestic reports said the personalities were part of a northward migration encouraged by the greater career opportunities at national and local TV stations on the mainland.