RTHK chief urges staff to produce ‘fair and just’ news reports, asks those offended to ‘pardon’ station
- In an open letter, Leung Ka-wing also told them not to violate the ‘one country’ principle
- The public broadcaster has been accused by the pro-establishment camp of biased reporting since anti-government protests broke out
The head of RTHK, Hong Kong’s public broadcaster, has told his staff the “one country” principle must not be violated and that they were required to follow the station’s governing principles for fair and just news reports and unbiased discussion programmes.
In a letter sent to staff and the media on Wednesday, Director of Broadcasting Leung Ka-wing also asked those who felt offended by RTHK’s programmes to “pardon” the station.
“Commendations, suggestions, or complaints, are all gladly welcomed to spur us on. To those who felt offended, we beg your pardon. After all, we serve the whole of society, in which we have never considered any individual or group our ‘enemy’,” he added.
Last month, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah openly criticised RTHK over what he considered a breach of the one-China principle, after a reporter pressed a World Health Organisation official during a segment on current affairs programme The Pulse on whether the body would accept Taiwan as a member.
Yau also said final responsibility for the programme lay with broadcasting director Leung.
Hong Kong commerce minister warns RTHK to observe broadcasting principles
The station was also “seriously warned” by the Communications Authority last month over an episode of its programme Pentaprism that aired last November.
In the programme, Education University of Hong Kong lecturer Sam Choi Chun-wai hit out at police for what he called the “bloody” sieges of Chinese University and Polytechnic University campuses during the social unrest, but the authority ruled that his remarks were “apparently based on distorted, inaccurate information”.
In Leung’s open letter to RTHK staff, he said commendations and complaints over the past months had affirmed the broadcaster’s pertinence to society.
“Since last August, many complaints were especially linked to the social unrest, some accusing us of spreading hatred,” he said.
“This circumstance correlates to the social turbulence and our persevering and exhaustive attitude towards the discussions surrounding these topics [related to social unrest].”
The ‘one country’ principle must not be violated
Looking forward, Leung said: “All colleagues must continue our scrupulous compliance with [our] charter, a mandate long observed by RTHK, to ensure the reflection and implementation of its entirety.
“The ‘one country’ principle must not be violated; we must follow the relevant Producers’ Guidelines for fair and just news reports, objective and calm pursuit of the truth, and unbiased discussion programmes,” he added.
Hong Kong broadcaster accused of breaching ‘one-China’ principle
RTHK Programme Staff Union chairman Gladys Chiu Sin-yan said Leung’s support for staff was appreciated.
“We see eye to eye with Leung in that we do not treat any of our critics as our enemy. We respect our critics’ views and we also cherish those who support us,” she said.
“Our message, as well as Leung’s, is clear and simple. We should not intentionally omit some views or ignore some voices to please our critics.”
Chiu said she agreed with Leung that RTHK served the public, and was accountable to them.
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