Radio Television Hong Kong's future has at last been made clear. It will remain a government department and our public service broadcaster. New resources will help it better serve the community. The components for a strong, independent voice have been put in place.
The government has, sensibly, followed public suggestions in making this decision. It could have adopted the three-year-old recommendation of an independent review panel and set up a new public broadcaster. No role for RTHK was spelt out in that document; a hiring freeze in its wake meant job insecurity for staff, which eroded morale. The uncertainty has now been removed.
There has been no explanation as to why the panel's advice has been ignored. The long delay in making a decision had created concern about the future of RTHK. The process could have been more sensitively handled. Speculation had been rife that the review would be used to transform RTHK into a broadcaster that provides only government information. Such a step would have found favour among some in pro-Beijing circles, but would not have been in Hong Kong's best interests.
The commitment by the government to maintaining RTHK's public broadcaster role is, therefore, welcome. But suspicions linger and every effort must be made to ensure its editorial independence is upheld when the new policy is implemented. Surveys have consistently shown the high regard in which RTHK is held. But its programming has been allowed to slide in quality. Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan promises the new-look RTHK will have the resources and support mechanisms to provide the best-possible programming.
A bottom-up approach has been adopted. New headquarters will be built. RTHK will enter the digital era with radio and television channels. More funding should ensure better local productions and mainland and overseas programmes. RTHK's remit will be laid out by the government in a charter to be signed by the chief secretary. Its relationship to the government and responsibilities will be made plain.
One concern, though, is the creation of a new advisory body whose members will be appointed by the chief executive. It is to provide advice on, among other things, editorial policy. There is a danger this will lead to pressure being applied in areas which should be strictly within RTHK's editorial autonomy. This must be avoided. In whatever framework is laid down, measures must ensure the advisers are not able to impinge on the broadcaster's editorial independence or the integrity of its news-gathering process. Members of the advisory body should be chosen with good governance and transparency in mind.
