RTHK is set to enter a new age after the government pledged to provide it with more resources as the city's public broadcaster. But concerns remain about its editorial independence, since the station will remain a government department and a new board will be set up to give editorial 'advice'.
A draft charter released earlier this month recommends that a board of advisers advise RTHK on editorial principles and programme standards. It would be appointed by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and be responsible for 'advising the director on all matters pertaining to editorial principles, programme standards and quality of RTHK programming'.
The draft charter follows a two-month public consultation on the broadcaster's role and a government decision in September last year not to establish another independent public-service broadcaster along with RTHK.
Government officials have said there would be consultation with staff soon and the charter was expected to be signed in the summer. They expect the board to be formed by year-end.
The charter upholds that RTHK is editorially independent, and that impartiality is its guiding principle.
But pan-democrat lawmakers argue the new advisory board could allow officials to interfere with the broadcaster's editorial direction.
RTHK programme staff union chairwoman Janet Mak Lai-ching said staff did not want the board either, with 80 per cent opposed in a survey late last year.
