RTHK Draws Flak After Pulling Poll Programme

RTHK on Thursday came in for criticism over the broadcaster's move to temporarily withdraw a Legco election-related programme from its website over reports that one of the interviewees is wanted by the police for violating the new national security law.

Nathan Law, a former member of Demosisto who fled to the UK before the national security legislation came into effect, had taken part in the forum telecast on July 31 on the postponement of the Legco election.

An RTHK spokesperson said because the law is very new, the management decided to adopt a cautious approach and made an editorial decision to remove the programme for the time being.

But the RTHK Programme Staff Union questioned if the public broadcaster has overreacted, saying the police had never confirmed whether the interviewee was indeed on their wanted list.

The union said people could be deprived of their political rights, adding that the incident may discourage people from accepting interviews.

In a Facebook post, Law said he was shocked by RTHK’s decision.

He noted media reports have suggested he’s been named a wanted person for violating the national security law, but the police had never confirmed nor denied such reports. Either way, he should be allowed to express his views, wrote Law.

He said he only commented on the postponement of the Legislative Council election during the interview, and did not say anything about the security law.

“I could only presume that the programme was pulled not because of what I said, but merely because of my identity as ‘a fugitive under the national security law’,” he wrote.

“Do wanted persons have the rights to be interviewed? Where is the line between attending a programme and responding to current affairs, and does the public broadcaster have the responsibility to let all parties state their views?” he asked.

He further queried whether news organisations should be bound by authorities’ restrictions, or perform its duties in the search for truth and monitoring those in power.

He urged RTHK’s management to review its decision and live up to its professionalism.