Former Lawmaker To Head RTHK Advisory Board

Former lawmaker Lam Tai-fai has been named the new head of the RTHK advisory board, replacing chairman Eugene Chan.

The government also announced that it has appointed former i-Cable News executive director Ronald Chiu and former Law Society chief Thomas So as board members, replacing Walter Chan and Mohan Datwani.

All three will serve two-year terms on the board starting from September 1.

Lam is a member of the top advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and chairman of the Polytechnic University Council, the school's governing body. He represented the industrial sector in Legco from 2008 to 2016.

Eugene Chan, a dentist by trade, had said the public broadcaster should provide more positive coverage of the national security law, and earlier this week suggested there should be training for staff to help them better understand the public broadcaster's charter, as well as its role in promoting civic society and national identity.

He is wrapping up ten years at the Board, four of which he served as chairman.

Edward Yau, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, thanked outgoing members for their service and contributions to the advisory board.

Yau told an RTHK radio programme that Lam has extensive experience in public service, and believes he will be able to lead the advisory board in achieving public purposes and mission as set out in RTHK's charter.

In a statement, RTHK spokeswoman Amen Ng welcomed the new members and said the management hopes with the help of the new advisory committee, the public broadcaster can further its development.

Meanwhile, the RTHK Programme Staff Union said it hopes the new board chairman will respect the media profession and understand why diverse opinions are valuable to Hong Kong.

It said it will "listen to his words, and observe his actions", stressed that the board of advisors is an advisory body, and it hopes that the new chairman and members will pay attention to the limits of its powers specified in the RTHK charter.