Handle broadcaster with care, RTHK's Tang is told
Exco convenor says under-fire RTHK director Roy Tang must be mindful of its duties - and that his is no ordinary government job
The Exco convenor has weighed into the escalating row at RTHK, saying its broadcasting director should exercise caution in his role as it is different from heading up other government departments.
Lam Woon-kwong was speaking for the first time on the public tussle between the broadcaster's staff and director Roy Tang Yun-kwong.
The Executive Council chief said Tang should attend to RTHK's duties as the city's public broadcaster, which is free to comment on the government.
Tang's open criticism of editorial processes has sparked fury at RTHK. He blocked a proposal to use Nazi characters in popular satirical show Headliner and attacked the "contradictory" reasons given by City Forum producers for using empty seats to represent absent officials in a TV debate about the now-shelved national curriculum plans.
Asked to comment yesterday, Lam said: "The director of broadcasting's duty is different from other [government] department directors. He needs to consider RTHK's responsibility as a public broadcaster. It has the power to review and comment on even government actions and remarks … [He] certainly needs to handle his complicated role carefully."
Lam urged Tang and RTHK employees to open the lines of communication and improve their relationship.