Lip service to public service broadcasting

Public service broadcasting or Public Broadcasting Service is common all over the world. In Hong Kong, the only publicly owned media "Radio and Television Hong Kong (RTHK)" is tightly controlled by Hong Kong government. The management of RTHK is composed of government's administrative officer and civil servants.

The public has been concerned with the independence of RTHK for more than twenty years. But the Hong Kong government, before and after the handover, have rejected all proposals of independence without giving any explanation. Yet people's worry about RTHK's editorial independence was confirmed by several controversies. For example, in 1999, Ms Cheung Man Yee, Head of RTHK, was transferred to Japan after its news programs were criticized by pro-Beijing partisans.

Hong Kong's public service broadcasting remains colonial-style even after the colonial government went away.

In January 2006, Mr John Tsang, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, appointed Wong Ying Shi as the chairperson of Committee on Review of Public Service Broadcasting. Most people believed that it was a preparation for the restructuring of RTHK. But in the recent consultation meeting on September 30, Wong said clearly that it does nothing with RTHK.

Some also thought that this committee would suggest some policy changes of Hong Kong's broadcasting, such as the issue of liberalization of the broadcasting market (only one public and two private radio broadcasters!). To many people's surprise, Wong also denied it. As he said, it does not touch upon any policy and current institutons.

There is a rumour that Hong Kong government was planning to turn RTHK into an "official" broadcasting organization for propaganda after the establishment of a new and relatively independent public service broadcasting company. Wong refused to comment on it. As he said, "If the government wants to do it, it will go ahead. This is not an issue subject to the review of this committee."

The memebers of this committee are only concerned with a future broadcasting body. They spent a lot of time on discussing the structure, the appointment of its board member and finance. But the review process is ridiculous that they are not allowed to evaluate the current policies and structures. They put the cart before the horse. All discussions of the future public service broadcasting become futile and out of focus.

Further, as Wong said, the effect of the final report of the committee is unknown. The government may accept it, make use of some parts of it, or just throw it into rubbish bin.

The Hong Kong government simply repeats what had been done by the colonial government in the past. Hong Kong politics is characterized by piecemeal consultations by the so-called experts or professionals. These consultations are not intended to policy changes according to public opinion and evaluation.

The government only pays lip service to the public pressure for more open and independent public service broadcasting.

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