Veteran journalist Leung Ka-wing named new head of RTHK at critical time for Hong Kong's public broadcaster
Relief that public broadcaster will no longer be run by a bureaucrat tempered by doubts over new director's ability to resist political pressure
Veteran journalist Leung Ka-wing has been named by the government as the new director of broadcasting, avoiding a repeat of the storm over the last appointment of a career bureaucrat, to lead RTHK as the public broadcaster faces critical challenges ahead.
Leung, 62, whose long career included stints as news chief at both Television Broadcasts (TVB) and Asia Television (ATV), will now have the arduous task of ensuring RTHK can fill in for ATV when the ailing station's licence expires next year.
He will also lead RTHK into a digital radio and television future that is uncertain after lawmakers blocked its HK$6.1 billion proposal for a new headquarters.
Although RTHK employees and the Journalists Association yesterday welcomed his journalistic credentials and the fact that the broadcaster would no longer be led by a bureaucrat, they expressed reservations about Leung's ability to resist political pressure.
Leung was in charge of ATV news when the station wrongly reported in July 2011 that former president Jiang Zemin had died - a decision that was believed to have been forced upon him by his bosses, although he took full responsibility and subsequently resigned.
Citing the Jiang report, the RTHK Programme Staff Union said it expected him "to build up mutual trust with all staff members".
Joseph Tse Chi-fung, retired host of RTHK's weekly City Forum, said: "The erroneous report has definitely cost him our confidence … That proved his failure to resist pressure."