Database on Particular Policy Issues - Information Technology and Broadcasting

Radio Television Hong Kong

Date

Context

Summary of development

Action

FC

At the Special Finance Committee meeting, members discussed issues related to webcasting and accountability of the role of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK)

FC

At the Special Finance Committee meeting, members examined the allocation and use of financial provisions for the programme services of RTHK.

FC

At the Special Finance Committee meeting, members discussed issues related to reception of Radio 5's programmes, webcasting and cultural education of RTHK and the consultancy study it has commissioned.

FC

At the Special Finance Committee meeting, members considered the reduction in RTHK's financial provision, its editorial independence and programming strategy.

4.05

FC

At the Special Finance Committee meeting, members considered the budget for RTHK and commercialization of RTHK's productions.

CM

A motion moved by Hon SIN Chung-kai as amended by Hon NG Leung-sing, Hon Howard YOUNG and Hon Andrew CHENG Kar-foo on policy on broadcasting was passed. [Hansard "page 210"]

The Panel discussed with the Administration on as a public service broadcaster and related issues concerning its accommodation needs, content licensing as well as the development of school educational television service. [Paper] [Information note] [Progress report]

The Panel discussed with the Administration on the arrangements for the licensing and distribution of content produced by RTHK, including school educational television programmes. [Paper]

The Panel considered issues relating to the broadcasting services of RTHK, including the Listenership Survey 2004, RTHK's annual provision, programming policy and the proposed Broadcasting House [Paper] [Background brief]

The Panel considered with the Administration and RTHK issues arising from the decision to scrap live broadcast of horse-racing and related to the role of RTHK as a public service broadcaster, its editorial independence etc. [Paper] [Background brief] [Framework agreement]

The Panel continue to discuss with the Administration and RTHK on the broadcasting service of RTHK.[Paper] [Press release] (Chinese version only) [Press release] (Chinese version only)

The Panel discussed with the Administration and RTHK on

(a)	Government' plan to review public service broadcasting in Hong Kong;
(b)	Corporatization of RTHK
(c)	Development of digital broadcasting;
(d)	Provision of public access channels; and
(e)	New RTHK Broadcasting House

[Paper] [Background brief]

CQ

Hon CHENG Kar-foo, Andrew raised a question on inability to access RTHK web-site in the Mainland. [Hansard "page 121"]

The Panel paid a visit to RTHK. [Powerpoint presentation]

CQ

Hon Ronny TONG Ka-wah raised a question on the criteria adopted by RTHK for inviting the Chief Executive, the Secretaries/Directors of Bureaux/Departments to be the host or guest speaker of its programmes. [Hansard "page 10"]

The Panel discussed with the Administration, the Broadcasting Authority (BA) and RTHK and received deputations' views on issues relating to the editorial independence of RTHK and the yardsticks of BA in imposing sanctions. [Paper provided by the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau] [Paper provided by the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority] [Paper provided by RTHK] (Chinese version only) [Referral from Complaints Division of the Legislative Council Secretariat] (Chinese version only) [Press release made by BA on 20 January 2007] [Statement made by RTHK on 20 January 2007] [Statement made by Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau on 23 January 2007] [Transcript of the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology speaking to the media on 23 January 2007]

At the Panel meeting, the following motion proposed by Hon Emily LAU and amended by the Chairman was passed: "That this Panel considers that the decision of the Broadcasting Authority (BA) concerning the episode entitled 〈同志．戀人〉("Homosexual Lovers") in "Hong Kong Connection" (鏗鏘集) of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) is in fact discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation; this Panel also considers that BA's decision concerning "An Autumn's Tale" (秋天的童話) lacks respect and safeguard for freedom of speech and creativity, and urges BA to withdraw the two decisions; this Panel agrees with the observation of the Equal Opportunities Commission that the episode〈同志．戀人〉 is in line with the educational approach adopted by the Government to raise public awareness of homosexuality."

The BA provided its written response to the motion on 23 March 2007. [Follow-up paper]

CQ

Hon Emily LAU Wai-hing raised a question on operation of Broadcasting Authority. [Hansard "page 56"]

CQ

Hon Albert CHAN Wai-yip raised a question on the broadcasting quality of RTHK. [Hansard "page 88"]

CQ

Hon Emily LAU Wai-hing raised a question on the editorial independence of RTHK. [Hansard "page 92"]

CM

A motion moved by Hon LEE Wing-tat on transforming RTHK to become the Hong Kong Public Broadcasting Corporation was negatived. [Hansard "page 238"]

The Administration briefed the Panel on the public consultation on public service broadcasting including issues related to the future of Radio Television Hong Kong and the opening up of radio/TV channels for use of the community. [Speaking note of the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development] (Chinese version only) [Speaking note of the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology)] (Chinese version only) [Executive Summary of the "Report on the Study of Public Service Broadcasting for Hong Kong" and the relevant extract on public access channels issued by the Panel in October 2006] [Summary of recommendations in the "Report on Review of Public Service Broadcasting in Hong Kong" and the relevant extract on community broadcasting and public access broadcasting issued by the Committee on Review of Public Service Broadcasting in March 2007] [Follow-up paper]

CQ

Hon LEE Wing-tat raised a question on review of public service broadcasting policy. [Hansard "page 77"]

The Administration briefed the Panel on the latest position of the Administration's review on public service broadcasting and relevant matters. [Paper] [Background brief] [Follow-up paper]

22.9.09

The Administration announced that RTHK would be tasked to be the public service broadcaster in Hong Kong, with new resources provided for service enhancement to enable it better to serve the community. The Administration will launch a two-month public consultation exercise to seek public views on how best RTHK should fulfil the mission as a PSB. [Press release]

The Administration briefed the Panel on the public service broadcasting and the future of RTHK. [LegCo Brief] [Background brief] [Public consultation paper]

The Panel met with the Administration and received deputations' views on the public service broadcasting and the future of RTHK. [LegCo Brief] [Public consultation paper] [Background brief]

The Administration briefed the Panel on the outcome of the public consultation exercise on the future operation of the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and the draft RTHK Charter. [Paper] [Background brief] [Follow-up paper]

The Panel met with the Administration and received deputations' views on the future operation of the RTHK and the new RTHK Charter. [Follow-up paper]

3.12.10

The Administration issued an information paper on the proposal to allocate new resources to RTHK as from 2011-2012 for launching various services to fulfill its role and mission as the public service broadcaster of Hong Kong. [Paper]

The Administration briefed the Panel on the establishment of a Media Asset Management system to preserve RTHK's programme archives. [Paper] [Background brief] [Follow-up paper]

CQ

Hon Paul CHAN Mo-po raised a question on manpower arrangement of Radio Television Hong Kong. [Hansard "page 39"]

The Administration briefed the Panel on the following issues:

(a)	a comprehensive package to support the development in the next few years of RTHK as the public service broadcaster. [Paper] [Background brief] [Submission from RTHK Programme Staff Union] (Chinese version only) [Submission from Digital Broadcasting Corporation Hong Kong Limited] (Chinese version only)
(b)	the proposal to create one supernumerary post of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B (D3) for three years and one permanent post of Controller (Broadcasting Services) (D1) for RTHK. [Paper] [Background brief]

The Panel met with representatives of RTHK Programme Staff Union and the Administration to discuss the manpower arrangements of RTHK, in particular the recruitment and promotion exercises for the Programme Officer grade. [Submission from RTHK Programme Staff Union] (Chinese version only) [Paper] [Background brief]

At the Panel meeting, the following motion moved by Hon LEE Wing-tat was passed:

"That, in connection with the recruitment of staff for Radio Television Hong Kong, this Panel demands that the Administration should:

(a)	accord priority to serving non-civil service contract staff and formulate a comprehensive plan to retain quality serving staff;
(b)	provide incremental points to experienced staff upon their appointment; and
(c)	conduct recruitment exercise for posts at promotion ranks, such as Programme Officer, as well."

The Administration provided its written response to the motion. [Follow-up paper]

9.9.11

The Administration issued a press release on appointment of the Director of Broadcasting and the development of Radio Television Hong Kong as the public service broadcaster. [Press release]

The Panel met with the Chairman of RTHK Programme Staff Union and the Administration to discuss the outcome of the open-cum-in-service recruitment exercise conducted for the post of Director of Broadcasting between late 2010 and mid-2011. [Paper] [Background brief] [Submission from RTHK Programme Staff Union] (Chinese version only)

The Panel met with two Phone-in Programme Hosts of RTHK, the Chairman of RTHK Programme Staff Union and the Administration to discuss adjustments to the "phone-in" programmes of RTHK. [Paper] [Fact sheet] (Chinese version only) [Submission from RTHK Programme Staff Union] [Submission from Hong Kong Journalists Association] (Chinese version only) [Submission from a member of the public] (Chinese version only)

The Administration briefed the Panel on the plan of RTHK to consult the public on the pilot project for the Community Involvement Broadcasting Services. [Paper] [Background brief]

CQ

Hon Fred LI Wah-ming raised a question on non-renewal of the contracts of two programme hosts of Radio Television Hong Kong. [Hansard "page 88"]

The Administration updated the Panel on the progress of promotion and recruitment exercises for the Programme Officer grade in RTHK. [Paper] [Background brief]