Communications Authority press release
**************************************

The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
 
     This press release summarises the decisions of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 103rd meeting held in January 2021:
 
     The CA considered two complaint cases in respect of broadcasters' non-compliance with the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Standards (TV Programme Code):
 
(a) A complaint against the television programme "Scoop" broadcast on May 21, 2020, on the Jade Channel of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). The CA took the view that the complaint in respect of fairness and right of reply was justified and decided that TVB should be strongly advised to observe more closely the relevant provisions in the TV Programme Code; and
 
(b) Complaints against three editions of the television programme "Headliner", respectively broadcast on the RTHK TV 31 Channel of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and the Jade Channel of TVB on February 28, 2020; on the RTHK TV 31 Channel of RTHK on March 13, 2020; and on the RTHK TV 31 Channel of RTHK on April 10, 2020. The CA took the view that the complaints in respect of denigration of and insult to police officers for the three editions under complaint, and the lack of suitable opportunity for response for the edition broadcast on March 13, 2020, were justified and that RTHK should be strongly advised to observe more closely the relevant provisions in the TV Programme Code.
 
     Details of the above cases are at www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/en/content_713/appx_20210128.pdf.

Ends/Thursday, January 28, 2021
Issued at HKT 16:17

NNNN