Hong Kong government has made public broadcaster RTHK a place of fear, uncertainty and self-censorship, insider claims
- Staff taking cautious approach to programmes over fears shows could be axed, source says
- All ideas must now be approved by new editorial committee headed by career bureaucrat Patrick Li
With an editorial overhaul raging at Hong Kong’s public broadcaster, many staff members have been left baffled by red lines being drawn by the new management amid a wave of resignations and last-minute cancellation of programmes, according to sources.
RTHK insiders told the Post that staff were being driven to self-censorship to avoid their programmes from being axed as many employees, especially those tasked with running current affairs shows, were living in fear of being targeted by those in charge.
A source said since the arrival of Patrick Li Pak-chuen, a career bureaucrat with no media experience who replaced veteran journalist Leung Ka-wing as director of broadcasting last month, at least five senior staff members from the current affairs division had resigned.
They included Doris Wong Lok-har, the head of public and current affairs section under RTHK’s Television and Corporate Businesses, and Liu Wai-ling, the producer of satirical current affairs show Headliner.
“Many staff, especially those with the current affairs division, describe themselves as living in white terror,” the source said. “Many have exercised self-censorship in the hope of getting the go-ahead for their planned programmes. Some staff may avoid interviewing controversial or pro-democracy figures from now on.”
Gladys Chiu Sin-yan, chairwoman of RTHK Programme Staff Union, said there was a “sense of self-censorship among RTHK colleagues”.
