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(a) RTHK should continue to be publicly funded;
(b) RTHK' S
(c)
editorial independence should continue to be safeguarded;
RTHK should be permitted to accept private sponsorship of programmes by public corporations or non-commercial organisations;
(d) RTHK should remain within the public
service; and
(e)
RTHK should be a balanced and objective broadcaster and should be seen by the public as such.
B
14
is
Having regard to the above principles, it therefore recommended that RTHK be placed under the direction of a
statutory Board of Governors appointed by the Governor with the department becoming the executive arm of the Board. This would be similar to the arrangement for the Housing Authority/Housing Department, the Urban Council/Urban Services Department and the Regional Council/Regional Services Department.
15
At present RTHK's responsibilities are stated in a government internal circular (copy at Annex B). It is proposed
that this circular should form the basis for a Charter of the future RTHK to be included in a RTHK Ordinance. Inter alia, this Ordinance would also permit the establishment of the Board of Governors for RTHK.
C
A Board of Governors
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A Board of Governors made up of a total of nine members is proposed.
Its main functions should be to ensure that RTHK's duties set out in the proposed Charter are carried out and to maintain an objective and balanced editorial policy. The detailed functions of the Board and its powers are given in Annex C.
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To ensure that the Board of Governors can reflect the views of the various sectors of the community, and to ensure that it is seen to be independent, it
to be independent, it is suggested that the Board should not include any officials. There should be nine members in all including at least two members of the Legislative Council. The Chairman of the Board should be appointed by, and report directly to, the Governor.