Hong Kong’s new RTHK chief lists ‘pressing tasks’ as he faces media glare minutes into the job
RTHK's new boss started his job yesterday with a vow to face political pressure squarely if it arises, while staff urged him to act according to his conscience.
Director of Broadcasting Leung Ka-wing was bombarded with questions at the Kowloon Tong headquarters of Hong Kong's public radio and television station.
Asked repeatedly whether the public broadcaster would be able to remain independent and whether it might have to take "political directives", the veteran news chief noted that editorial independence was enshrined in RTHK's charter, adding that he was not sure what "political directives" meant exactly.
"I'll cross that bridge if we come to it," he said. "It would be helpful if my colleagues could give me some examples of 'political directives' that their bosses have had to deal with in the past."
Leung said his most pressing tasks were to take over part of the broadcast spectrum released by failing television station ATV, and to build a new RTHK headquarters in Tseung Kwan O.
The financially troubled ATV will lose its free-to-air licence next April.
"What I need to do first is to get to know all my colleagues at RTHK and how the various departments work, because I'm new here," he said.
Leung expressed confidence in solving problems holding RTHK back from building its new headquarters soon - other broadcasting directors having tried for more than a decade.
In January last year, lawmakers voted down a HK$6.1 billion proposal for the plan, saying it cost too much.
RTHK's staff union hoped Leung could seek more resources for the station.
After meeting Leung for about two hours yesterday, the chairwoman of the RTHK Programme Staff Union, Bao Choy Yuk-ling, said: "We and Leung have the same vision. In the future RTHK will take over [ATV's] analogue TV channels. We look forward to RTHK's obtaining enough resources to produce TV news.
"We feel this showed Mr Leung's commitment."
The issue of "political directives" was not mentioned during the meeting, she said. She quoted Leung as saying that political problems would be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
She hoped the new director of broadcasting would act in accordance with his conscience.
Neither the union nor Leung thought mutual trust could be built overnight, she said.
The union hoped it could have regular exchanges with Leung in future, she said, and Leung might meet all staff members in the coming weeks after he became familiar with the RTHK's operation.
Leung, a former news chief at ATV and TVB, took the post on Thursday. He replaced civil servant Roy Tang Yun-kwong.
Additional reporting by Thomas Chan