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Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, (in the absence of the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology) in the Legislative Council today (May 9):
Question:
The Framework Agreement signed between the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology and the Director of Broadcasting specifies that Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) is editorially independent. In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:
(a) of the respective numbers of phone calls made in the past two years by the staff of the Information Officer grade in the Office of the Chief Executive, Private Offices/Offices of the Secretaries of Departments, bureaux and departments to the News and Current Affairs Unit of RTHK to enquire or complain about its news reports (with a breakdown by the reasons for making such calls), and the number of cases in which RTHK made changes to the contents of its reports as a result;
(b) whether they will review if the aforesaid practice of such staff goes against the policy of safeguarding the editorial independence of RTHK; and
(c) of the other measures in place to honour the undertaking to safeguard the editorial independence of RTHK?
Reply:
Madam President,
I reply to parts (a), (b) and (c) of the question as follows:
(a) According to the Producers' Guidelines of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), news should be presented with due accuracy. As an established practice, RTHK reports news based on the veracity of facts. Nevertheless, if RTHK finds that errors may have been made after news reports have been released, or if it receives enquiries concerning the accuracy of its news reports, it will carefully investigate and make corrections if errors are so verified. RTHK handles in a fair, non-discriminatory manner all complaints and enquiries from within and outside the Government, made either in written form or through telephone, about its news reports.
Generally speaking, when Government Information Officers find any factual errors in a media report, they will check with the concerned media member through different means (including telephone enquiries) and issue clarification as necessary. Such practice does not affect editorial independence of any member of the media on news coverage.
It is one of the day-to-day duties of a media member to liaise and communicate with Government Information Officers. RTHK's English and Chinese News and Current Affairs Sections are of no exception. According to RTHK, it has not maintained any records on the number of day-to-day contacts, and the content of such contacts, with the staff of the Information Officer grade in the Office of the Chief Executive, the Private Offices/Offices of the Secretaries of Departments, bureaux and departments. Neither do relevant Government departments keep records on such normal communication.
(b) Day-to-day liaison between RTHK and Government Information Officers is normal working communication, which is not related to RTHK's editorial independence.
(c) In accordance with the existing policy, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology will continue to discharge his duties set out in the Framework Agreement signed between him and the Director of Broadcasting, which includes the clause on RTHK's editorial independence in the production of news and current affairs programmes.
Ends/Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:51
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