TNAG-1987-FCO40-2820-Presentation-of-UK-policy-on-Hong-Kong-to-the-media-1989 — Page 87

CONFIDENTIAL

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135275

MDLIAN 0447

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 3055

OF 140838Z SEPTEMBER 89

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

MIPT: PREPARATIONS FOR JLG XIII: DEFENSIVE MATERIAL: REORGANISATION

OF RTHK

BEGINS

Q1

WHY NEED TO REORGANISE RTHK INTO A PUBLIC CORPORATION?

A 1

Q2

A 2

Q3

A3

CORPORATISATION OF RTHK WAS PROPOSED BY BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD IN 1985. WILL ENHANCE RTHK'S IMAGE AS AN IMPARTIAL AND OBJECTIVE PUBLIC BROADCASTER. "WILL ALSO

ALLOW RTHK TO OPERATE MORE FLEXIBLY IN TERMS OF ITS STAFFING, ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. THIS ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY DESIRABLE IF RTHK TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY IN HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND RAPIDLY

DEVELOPING FIELD OF BROADCASTING.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HKG AND FUTURE RTHK CORPORATION?

RTHK WILL BE RE-CONSTITUTED BY STATUTE AS AN INDEPENDENT BUT GOVERNMENT-FUNDED PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION UNDER THE CONTROL OF A BOARD OF GOVERNORS. HAPPY TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS OF PROPOSED NEW MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS THROUGH JLG OFFICE SHOULD CHINESE SIDE BE INTERESTED.

HOW WILL HKG EXERCISE CONTROL OVER CONTENTS OF THE BROAD-

CASTS BY THE FUTURE CORPORATION?

UNDER PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING IS RESPONSIBLE 0 RELEVANT POLICY SECRETARY FOR ENSURING PRODUCTION OF FAIR, BALANCED AND OBJECTIVE PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND NEWS PROGRAMMES. IN PRACTICE, AS RTHK'S EDITOR IN CHIEF, DIRECTOR ENJOYS COMPLETE EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE.

FOLLOWING ESTABLISHMENT OF RTHK CORPORATION, DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO BOARD OF GOVERNORS WHICH, IN TURN, WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. BOARD WILL OPERATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATUTORY OBJECTS

1

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