Rise and fall of RTHK boss who tried and failed to serve two masters in time at Hong Kong’s public broadcaster

Appointment of veteran journalist Leung Ka-wing raised hopes of new era of professionalism at government department

But 68-year-old, whose career began in 1975, was engulfed in political storms from almost the moment he arrived

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Director of Broadcasting Leung Ka-wing leaves RTHK Headquarters in Kowloon Tong on Friday. Photo: May Tse

Published: 9:15pm, 19 Feb 2021Updated: 11:52pm, 19 Feb 2021

The appointment of Leung Ka-wing once raised hopes his leadership at Hong Kong’s public broadcaster would bring professionalism instead of bureaucracy when he started more than five years ago.

But the government and the pro-establishment bloc had grown increasingly impatient with his handling of some productions. These negative sentiments that only worsened after anti-government protests broke out in 2019.

Leung, the director of broadcasting, will step down by “mutual consent” in days, five months earlier than scheduled, with the official announcement coinciding with the release of a highly critical government report into its editorial processes.

The 68-year-old will be replaced by Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Li Pak-chuen on March 1.

Carrie Lam (left) at a radio programme in 2017 during her bid to become chief executive, alongside Director of Broadcasting Leung Ka-wing at RTHK in Kowloon Tong. Photo: Dickson Lee

Leung’s career began at the Hong Kong Economic Journal in 1975 after he graduated from Baptist University’s journalism school.

He moved to the now defunct Commercial Television the same year, and three years later he joined TVB, where he rose through the ranks over 12 years to become managing editor and then headed the newsroom of the city’s biggest broadcaster as its news controller. As an evening news anchor, he also became a household name, and was known for his composure in front of the camera.

Rise and fall of RTHK boss who tried and failed to serve two masters in time at Hong Kong’s public broadcaster

Appointment of veteran journalist Leung Ka-wing raised hopes of new era of professionalism at government department But 68-year-old, whose career began in 1975, was engulfed in political storms from almost the moment he arrived

Appointment of veteran journalist Leung Ka-wing raised hopes of new era of professionalism at government department

But 68-year-old, whose career began in 1975, was engulfed in political storms from almost the moment he arrived