ARTICLE 19 and The Hong Kong Journalists Association
The demerger of RTHK from the administration, however, has been dogged by repeated problems and delays, the most serious being China's objection to its incorporation on the grounds that the post-1997 government should have its own broadcasting capability. Beijing criticizes RTHK for siding with critics of China, thereby implying that the station is acting as a propaganda arm of the government. This is in sharp contrast to the degree of editorial independence actually enjoyed by the station in presenting news and current affairs programmes.
The incorporation issue has been further complicated by proposals to reduce the salary package for many of the existing staff, which has eroded support among employees for independence. The RTHK Programme Staff Union, which represents most employees, supports incorporation, but is concerned that the government is placing too much emphasis on cost-cutting aspects of the exercise, instead of the need for editorial independence in the run-up to 1997.
The government's proposal to incorporate RTHK was discussed in the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group in March 1992, but no progress was made. The issue has been on hold since then, but the administration is expected to make a final decision in early 1993.
5.2.4
Broadcasting and telecommunication policy
The government's Recreation and Culture Branch deals with policy matters for television and radio broadcasting. A statutory body, the Broadcasting Authority, oversees the regulation of the broadcasting industry, including the issue of licences, and the monitoring and control of television and radio. The Authority has considerable statutory powers of censorship under Television, Telecommunication and Broadcasting Authority ordinances. Its executive arm is the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA), one of whose functions is the censoring of films under guidelines laid down in the Film Censorship Ordinance'.
Policy decisions for telecommunications, as well as for technical matters relating to television and radio broadcasting, are made by the administration's Economic Services Branch. The executive arm overseeing policy implementation and legal requirements is the Telecommunication Authority under the Postmaster General.
Plans for the further opening-up of broadcasting and telecommunications were finalized in late June 1992, the culmination of a policy of deregulation which began with recommendations of a Broadcasting Review Board in 1985 calling for greater competition and services for the
consumer.
Originally, it had been planned that a subscription cable television service would be in operation in 1990, at about the same time as satellite transmission and reception was to be
9
See Chapter 4.
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