RTHK extends veteran Forever Sze's acting period amid row

An RTHK senior executive at the centre of a storm over alleged political censorship at the government-run broadcaster has had his period as acting assistant director of broadcasting extended until further notice.

Forever Sze Wing-yuen said he would not speculate on whether the arrangement was related to the recent row.

He told the South China Morning Post he received a letter yesterday informing him of the decision, a day after the expiry of his one-year period as acting assistant director.

It came two weeks after he complained publicly about being put under political pressure amid speculation he would not be given the assistant director's job permanently because he had clashed with Director of Broadcasting Roy Tang Yun-kwong.

Sze was told last year he would be confirmed if his performance was satisfactory. It was unusual for an RTHK employee under a similar arrangement to be asked to continue serving on an acting basis, he said. "I haven't heard of similar cases in my 30-plus years of service in RTHK," he said. Sze was briefed by Tang yesterday morning on the appraisal for his period acting as assistant director. He declined to disclose details of the meeting as it was confidential.

Sze said two weeks ago he "had the feeling" he was being assigned political missions.