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Hong Kong politics
Hong KongPolitics

Lam stands by ‘one-China’ criticisms levelled at Hong Kong public broadcaster over Taiwan questions to WHO official

  • ‘RTHK has to fulfil the very important and fundamental principle of upholding ‘one country, two systems’,’ chief executive says at media briefing
  • A March 28 of the news programme ‘The Pulse’ had seen an RTHK reporter press a WHO official over the body’s stance on membership for the island

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A March 28 interview with WHO assistant director general Dr Bruce Aylward on RTHK news programme ‘The Pulse’ sparked controversy after he was pressed on the health organisation’s stance on Taiwan. Photo: RTHK
Natalie Wong

Hong Kong's leader has defended the commerce minister's criticisms of the city's public broadcaster, which he said had breached the “one China” policy by allowing one of its reporters to press a top World Health Organisation (WHO) on Taiwan's membership status.

Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, Chief Executive Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said she “endorsed and supported” the stance of Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah, who in a statement last week slammed RTHK, sparking concerns over press freedom among station staff.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said RTHK had failed to fulfil its ‘fundamental principle’ of upholding the ‘one country, two systems’ policy. Photo? Robert Ng
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said RTHK had failed to fulfil its ‘fundamental principle’ of upholding the ‘one country, two systems’ policy. Photo? Robert Ng
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“Let me make this very clear, either as a public broadcaster or government department, RTHK has to fulfil the very important and fundamental principle of upholding ‘one country, two systems’,” Lam said, referencing China’s governing principle for Hong Kong since its return from British rule.

Beijing officials and pro-Beijing politicians have previously argued that to understand “one country, two systems” correctly, one must accept the one-China policy.

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Yau on Thursday publicly took issue with a March 28 episode of English-language current affairs programme “The Pulse”. In one segment of the broadcast, a journalist asked WHO assistant director general Dr Bruce Aylward via teleconference if the organisation would consider granting Taiwan membership.

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