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| Bunny Chan talks to Carrie Lam about HK electoral reform |
RTHK has quite a few holes in its programming lately thanks to its new director of broadcasting Patrick Li Pak-chuen going through them, and despite not having any broadcasting or journalism experience, has axed nine TV program episodes he has deemed inappropriate.
He also warned RTHK would charge the staff for the axed shows too.
But have no fear, a programming solution has been found -- Hong Kong's very own Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has begun hosting a show on what else? Electoral reform.
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| Li has axed several shows since starting his job |
The first two prerecorded episodes were shown today, as part of "Get to Know the Election Committee Subsectors", where Lam talks to guests from various industries represented in the election committee that ultimately chooses the next chief executive.
Isn't this show a kind of conflict of interest, as Lam chats up people perhaps in a bid for them to vote for her?
In any event, this is the first time a sitting chief executive is hosting a TV program, and even better, a platform for her and her guests to praise Beijing for its foresight in initiating these electoral reforms.
With a plain backdrop with banners on either side of two armchairs and a pot of orchids in between, Lam was the one asking questions of her two guests, Wong Yuk-shan, a local deputy of the National People's Congress and a member of the Basic Law Committee, and then Bunny Chan Chung-bun, chairman of the pro-establishment Kowloon Federation of Associations. |
| RTHK is broadcasting Lam's 40 episodes |
Wong felt honoured to represent Hong Kong in the National People's Congress, noting: "In the whole nation, there are about 3,000 NPC deputies. But for Hong Kong alone with a population of about 7.5 million, we can have 36 NPC deputies. It shows the central government attaches much importance to Hong Kong people's views."
Meanwhile Chan said according to residents he met, they did not think the electoral reforms were a step backward for democracy.
"They understand democracy is only the means, the goal should be for the people to enjoy better livelihoods and good governance," he said.
Strangely the show was only broadcast in Cantonese with no English subtitles. This is outrageous considering the programs are produced by the Hong Kong SAR Government, which claims Chinese and English are the two official languages of the city.
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| The show is in Cantonese and no English subtitles |
On Lam's Facebook page, many posted comments about the show, ranging from support, and saying they wanted her to be re-elected, to others urging her to have direct dialogue with the people.
How many of those comments were planted?
