RTHK's New Head Doing What I Expect Of Him: CE

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has defended the new head of RTHK over his controversial decisions to pull several programmes at the last minute, saying he has been doing what she expects of the station's chief editor.

Since taking office on March 1, Patrick Li and an editorial panel have pulled several television programmes at short notice, citing "biased views" and "inaccuracies".

At a weekly meet-the-media session, the chief executive was asked whether the director of broadcasting is in some kind of “overkill” mode, and whether the public are losing out as shows are "censored".

Lam brushed aside such concerns.

“Whether as a government department or a public broadcaster, RTHK has to follow rules, and regulations, and guidelines. And particularly in RTHK, they have signed a charter, not only with the government, but also with the Broadcasting Authority,” Lam said.

“It is for us all, including the director of broadcasting, to make sure the rules and regulations in the charter are being followed,” she added.

Lam said Li, as the editor-in-chief of RTHK, must make sure programmes are in line with the law and the station's charter.

“That’s why he has to be very cautious, and I have to recognise what he has done since taking office, he has been very conscientious, and doing exactly what I expect from the chief editor of RTHK,” said Lam.

Li worked as an administrative officer for the government since 1990, and was the deputy secretary for home affairs before replacing veteran journalist Leung Ka-wing as director of broadcasting.