RTHK Sacks Slew of Hosts

Host Allan Au said goodbye to listeners on his last show

In the last two weeks, Radio Television Hong Kong has had a spate of hosts fired from radio and television shows.

On Monday evening, at the end of RTHK's Open Line Open View, long time host Allan Au announced it was his last time hosting the political commentary show. 

The veteran journalist said that he had hosted the phone-in program once or twice a week for 11 years and described his departure as "the end of a chapter", and said he had developed a relationship with his listeners.

Tsang Chi-ho was also let go abruptly

"Actually, we only discuss facts [during the show], and we reason, we just want to listen to the opinions of more people," he said at the end of the show.

Au bid farewell to his listeners and his colleagues at the government-funded radio broadcaster, saying, "Everyone, take care."

The following morning on Commercial Radio, Au said he was told by the department head 30 minutes before the radio show that it would be his last day due to "staffing changes."

He did not know why he was fired as a host, but speculated it could be related to opinion pieces he wrote for other media outlets, some of which were critical of senior management at RTHK. 

Au, who is also a journalism academic, said he was only in charge of raising questions on the radio show, adding he never expressed the views from his commentaries while on the air.

Also on Monday, a TV show called RTHK Talk Show, which covered topics such as history, philosophy and literature was also axed, said one of its hosts Leung Kai-chi.

Tsang posted this empty set on his Facebook

He wrote on Facebook that he was going to record an episode on Tuesday, but later received a notice that the show was terminated.

"Thank you to the production team for your efforts along the way. Thank you to the guest hosts for encouraging each other and thank you each and every audience for your support and encouragement," he wrote, and attached a photo of an empty studio in RTHK.

And on June 18, a popular radio presenter with pro-democracy leanings, Tsang Chi-ho, was told he was sacked after he finished his program. His co-host, Jackie Chan was also let go.

Tsang was part of the popular satirical show Headliner that was axed in June last year after the show received numerous complaints from the police commissioner, and was investigated by the Communications Authority.

Maybe that's why yet another RTHK host, Stephen Vines, has decided to call it quits.

Tsang starred in a satirical show axed last June

The commentator and author who was previously the editor-in-chief of the defunct Eastern Express back in the mid 1990s, says he's leaving the public broadcaster because of the national security law.

He was guest presenter of Backchat since April, and was dropped as a political commentator on the Morning Brew radio show, which he had appeared on for more than 10 years.

Vines ended the Backchat program by saying:

"We happen to be discussing the first anniversary of the national security law today, it seems to me that for somebody who is more critical, the time to remain at RTHK has ended. So with great regret -- but reflecting great pleasure over the years -- I think I better go," he told listeners.

He also hosts an English political program called The Pulse, which aired its final episode before the summer break and Vines was unsure if he would return as host.

Vines told listeners he was leaving RTHK

"I think that the whole point about RTHK and the reason why I've always liked it is it took very seriously its role as a public broadcaster, by which I mean a broadcaster that was more responsible to the public than it was to the people who provided the money, i.e. the government. But then you could say, well who provides the money for the government -- that's also the public," he said.

"The reason why I have misgivings now is that I don't feel that the mandate of RTHK as a public broadcaster is as strong as it was in the past, I think there's much more pressure on the station to be an organ of government rather than a public broadcaster."

With all these shows cancelled and axed, what are people listening to and watching on RTHK? Is there dead air, or a blank screen?

The changes happening there are fast and shocking, leaving people little time to prepare, let alone say goodbye to colleagues, and more to come.

Only the head of RTHK, Patrick Li Pak-chuen knows when it will all end...

Is Casting a Blank Vote a Crime?

What will voter turnout be like in the upcoming Legco election?

 

Now that Hong Kong's electoral system has been overhauled to make it near impossible for pro-democracy politicians to run, let alone win, will anyone actually participate and cast a vote?

In the 2019 district council elections, almost 3 million people voted, 71 percent of registered voters -- an unprecedented turnout -- and what was the result? 17 of the 18 district councils were won by the pro-democracy camp.

Tse says calling for blank votes could be a crime

But the Hong Kong government cannot expect such a turnout again, unless people cast blank ballots.

And pro-Beijing lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun warns that could be a crime.

On Sunday, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said officials would study whether more regulation was needed to prevent people from casting blank votes.

Speaking on RTHK, Tse agreed with Cheng that it was a person's civic responsibility to cast a ballot, but said there was no law against casting blank votes.

However, Tse said, if someone were to call for such action in an organized manner, that might amount to subversion under the national security law, or other criminal offences.

Meanwhile on Commercial Radio, Hong Kong legal academic Johannes Chan Man-mun said people would be put off by more government regulation and this could lead to protest voting.

Chan says people might cast protest votes

Chan said he thought the government would look into the issue of blank votes, as there are concerns the voter turnout will dip significantly, with the pro-democracy side showing no interest in voting.

Instead he called on the government to think about why people would cast blank votes instead of worrying about the possibility.

Chairman of the Democratic Party Lo Kin-hei said casting blank votes is a way for the people to express their dissatisfaction, and that they did not like any of the candidates. He questioned whether Hongkongers' only choice was to support the government.

Perhaps this time Hong Kong really will have a silent majority?

Hearing More of the Chinese Anthem

You'll be hearing more of the Chinese national anthem soon

The mainlandizing of Hong Kong continues as the city's three main radio stations will start to play the Chinese national anthem from November 16 to comply with the law that was enacted five months ago.

Hong Kong's licensed radio broadcasters are required to promote March of the Volunteers and anyone who insults the anthem can be punished by law.

Public broadcaster RTHK and privately-owned Commercial Radio will play the anthem before their 8am newscasts daily from November 16. Metro Radio owned by tycoon Li Ka-shing, will also air March of the Volunteers at the same time slot, but the starting date has yet to be decided.

RTHK will air the anthem before the 8am news

"It's a necessary move to fulfill the legal requirement," said Amen Ng Man-yee, a spokeswoman for RTHK. She added playing the national anthem was in line with the charter of the public broadcaster, which requires its programs to deepen Hong Kong people's understanding of "one country, two systems", and cultivate a sense of citizenship and national identity.

Ng added the practice of playing the anthem will be implemented across all six of RTHK's channels, after months of negotiations with Home Affairs Bureau officials.

Interestingly it has taken this long for radio stations to play the anthem -- since 2004 television stations including TVB and Cable TV have played the national anthem before evening newscasts. 

Anyone who publicly and intentionally insults the song faces up to three years in jail and a maximum fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,450).

US has no specific penalties for non compliance

This is in sharp contrast the United States Code, that says any person present during the playing or singing of the American anthem "should" stand at attention with their right hand over their heart. There are no penalties for non compliance. 

Has the airing of the national anthem on television in the past 15 years increased Hongkongers' sense of nationalism or patriotism?

This attempt at soft power is misguided. At the same time there are fewer and fewer people watching TV and listening to the radio. But the upside for radio producers is that it's one minute and 30 seconds less of programing to worry about everyday...

Carrie Lam Still Won't Budge

Carrie Lam on Commercial Radio to further explain her policy address

Is it the chicken or the egg that came first?

We can only shake our heads at Chief Executive Carrie Lam's latest pronouncement.

Lam and her cabinet have no brilliant ideas to end protests

Today during radio phone-in shows on RTHK and Commercial Radio she said she hinted she would be open to reshuffling her cabinet, which included ministers and advisers -- but only after the political crisis died down.

"I will not rule out the possibility, but I will decide when we have reached this stage," she said.

So when would that be? Isn't now the time to try and get fresh blood and new ideas to solve the four-months' long protests? It's quite obvious that after four months no one has any brilliant suggestions to break the impasse and try to resolve the situation.

During the radio program on RTHK, Lam said she was relieved Chan Tong-kai, 20, the murder suspect at the centre of the extradition bill that sparked the months' long protests, wrote to her, saying he would turn himself in to the Taiwan authorities.

Chan Tong-kai is willing to face murder charges in Taiwan

Chan is wanted in Taiwan for the February 2018 murder of his pregnant girlfriend, and he will be released on Wednesday after serving time in Hong Kong for money laundering.

When this news was reported, many on social media commented that at least he was willing to face up to his crime unlike Lam with her massive mistake...

A Leg-Up on the Competition?

Regina Ip gamely showing off her matching boots to host Stephen Chan

The race for the next chief executive of Hong Kong is already more interesting.

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee made an appearance on Commercial Radio this morning and the visit was captured on Facebook Live.

The host, Stephen Chan Chi-wan has been getting each of the candidates to do something different to show another side of them, like having Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and John Tsang Chun-wah take off their glasses.

Carrie Lam had trouble using her Octopus to Ap Lei Chau

However, Ip didn't have any because she claims she can still see quite well. Nevertheless the observant Chan noted that Ip's outfit, footwear and handbag were all matching, in a peacock blue.

She obliged, showing off the handbag and then pushed her chair back before holding up her leg with her hands to present the same blue coloured heeled boots.

Talk about trying to get a leg-up on the competition.

Her assistant later revealed the boots were bought at Lane Crawford for HK$1,000 two years ago. Interestingly no price quoted for the handbag.

Who else has matching clothes, shoes and handbags except maybe the Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall?

Lam recently moved to Convention Plaza in Wan Chai

After flashing some leg, Ip held up two Octopus cards, one for parking and one (we should note for seniors) to use on the MTR.

Chan asked her if she knew how to take the MTR to which she confidently replied affirmative.

It was a jab at Lam, who didn't seem to know how to use her Octopus card when she took the MTR to Ap Lei Chau to visit the community there.

Lam also bizarrely revealed that she ran out of toilet paper after recently moving into a serviced apartment in the Convention Centre, and that she took a taxi in the middle of the night to get some.

There were questions of how much carbon footprint she generated from her quest for TP, but isn't it more important that Lam be more familiar with the MTR?

If she doesn't really know how to use the MTR, how can she even begin to understand the issues the average Hong Kong person faces on a daily basis?

Commuters wait for many trains before getting on at rush hour

Every CE candidate should take the MTR at rush hour and see what it's like. It's no joke that one has to wait at least four or five trains to go by before getting on, and how commuters are squashed in there like sardines.

And they should visit people who live in subdivided flats, spending up to half of their salary on rent even though the living conditions are appalling. Why is it that when banks lend money for mortgages, the applicant cannot spend more than half their salary on the monthly payment back to the bank, but this rule is not applied to rents?

And they should see how much waste is generated on a daily basis, how many items are not recycled, and see how much food is dumped from households, restaurants and hotels, and how non-profits are trying to salvage a tiny fraction of that food, but more needs to be done.

The list could go on and on.

But we really have to give to Ip today for having a bit more fun, being game to show off what a fashion plate she is, though she did have to use her hand to raise her leg, which made us wonder where her core is...

The Bickering Continues

The Liaison Office of the Central Government in the HKSAR in Western

The fallout from the crucial vote on the Hong Kong government's political reform package continues to escalate, with members of the pro-Beijing camp bickering amongst themselves over what happened on Thursday.

Thirty-one of them walked out of the Legislative Council chamber moments before the vote was taken, thinking it would help bring a 15-minute delay as they waited for New Territories strongman Lau Wong-fat who was delayed in traffic.

A remorseful Jeffrey Lam apologized for the walkout

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee couldn't help but cry on Commercial Radio yesterday and business representative and Executive Council member Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, who initiated the walkout, profusely apologized.

The 28 to 8 vote against the reform package was terribly embarrassing for Beijing. Soon after the vote, the Liaison Office began calling the pro-Beijing lawmakers who dutifully voted for the package, which was confirmed by Liberal Party honorary chairman James Tien Pei-chun.

Others who bungled the vote were summoned to the office in Western to explain what had happened, similar to naughty school children who are called into the principal's office.

Independent lawmaker Ng Leung-sing also went to Western. How did he explain why he was there?

Ng Leung-sing admits regular chats with the liaison office

"I have regular dialogue with the liaison office," Ng said. "Of course it was unavoidable for us to discuss what happened on Thursday."

Ah-ha! So anyone left-leaning has scheduled chats with the liaison office... it really does confirm the on going sardonic saying that "Hong Kong is ruled by Western", as the liaison office is located in Sai Ying Pun.

However, the liaison office calling the shots is considered illegal according to Article 22 of the Basic Law which says:

No department of the Central People's Government and no province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government may interfere in the affairs which the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region administers on its own in accordance with this law.

If there is a need for departments of the Central Government, or for provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government to set up offices in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, they must obtain the consent of the government of the Region and the approval of the Central People's Government.

All offices set up in the Hong Kong Administrative Region by departments of the Central Government, or by provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the personnel of these offices shall abide by the laws of the Region.

So -- can we have less interference from the liaison office now that this silly fiasco is all over? Obviously its meddling in Hong Kong affairs has been a disaster.

But the Central Government probably doesn't see it that way and is possibly now doubling or even tripling its efforts to ensure things go its way despite the promise of "one country, two systems"...

Quote of the Day: Regina Ip

Pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip fights back tears on Commercial Radio

It's been a bad 24 hours for Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.

This morning she appeared on Commercial Radio and became emotional talking about the pro-Beijing establishment bungling their vote for the political reform package by walking out of the Legislative Council chamber minutes before the vote was taken.

Twenty eight voted against the package, versus 8 for it. While 31 pro-Beijing walked out of the chamber, they still wouldn't have had the two-thirds majority to pass it anyway.

But these lawmakers looked silly and are paying for it now.

Ip explained that she didn't sleep well the night before and began to crack up and cry on the radio; someone handed her a tissue.

"I feel very sad and very sorry that we've failed many people's expectations. I saw many of our supporters were scolding us online," she said. "The error this time is very regrettable."

Perhaps she is also crying because she totally blew her chances of ever becoming chief executive of Hong Kong...

A Gulf Between Them

Carrie Lam, centre right is mobbed along with boss CY Leung (in white)

Now that the electoral reform package has been released, it's time for the Hong Kong government to sell it to the public.

Things got off to a bad start yesterday. After unveiling the package in Legco, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, and even Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying tried to visit residents in Mei Foo, but the senior officials were drowned out by protesters and loud boos that they had to beat a hasty retreat.

Dozens of people used amplifiers, saying, "2017, we are doomed", and "we want real universal suffrage", overpowered Lam's voice.

As Leung escaped back to his vehicle, some shouted, "Resign, CY Leung".

Doesn't sound like it was receptive...

So today Lam tried another tact to try to change people's minds by saying if they accepted the package now, there was a chance -- a chance -- that Beijing would amend the electoral framework.

Emily Lau hopes to change Beijing's mind on electoral reform

This morning on Commercial Radio, she said the National People's Congress Standing Committee had a constitutional right to revise the electoral framework in light of the actual situation if the next Hong Kong government decided to roll out another round of reform.

"At the second step [of the so-called five-step reform procedure], the Standing Committee has to make a decision on how to amend the electoral system," Lam said. "It can make a decision based on the actual situation -- such as the ways to make the governance smoother -- at that time."

So basically Beijing can monitor the situation and tweak it as it sees fit -- and there's a good chance that if Hong Kong people continue to protest for universal suffrage, it doesn't mean China will grant it to us -- and in fact the opposite could happen.

Lam is not outlining the possible circumstances in which the electoral system could be amended, and the language is probably vague enough to give Chinese leaders enough leeway to justify whatever changes they wish to make.

Elections are not something the Chinese government is familiar about. While it likes to say it rules by consensus, there's a lot of backroom politicking going on. And if members of the National Congress do vote on something, it is pretty much sanctioned already, and the vote justifies their pre-determined decision.

So what will it be, folks?

Accepting the package now in the hopes there will be tweaks later -- but that could go in the opposite direction, or to hold out for something better?

The pan-democrats continue to stand firmly in the veto camp, though they seem disillusioned as well.

Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing said, "We need to step up efforts to change the situation and make Beijing willing to make changes." She said these would include efforts to explain to Hong Kong and Beijing officials what the pan-democrats see as the plan's negative impact on Hong Kong.

Does she really think China will listen to them? There is so much mistrust between the two parties, and also the pan-democrats lost moral ground during the Umbrella Movement that it's hard to see how the they will win back the public's support.

Things are so divisive that the chances of finding middle ground seem too remote...

The Continuing Erosion of Press Freedom

Calling for press freedom following the attack on a former Ming Pao editor

This year is hardly over yet but already the Hong Kong Journalists Association is calling 2014 the darkest in decades due to violence, financial pressure and the reliance by the government on anonymous sources.

And the association expects things to get worse.

"We reckon that Hong Kong's press freedom had its darkest year in several decades," said association chairwoman Sham Yee-lan yesterday. "As political pressure between Hong Kong and Beijing increases, we expect further deterioration in press freedom."

She cited such incidents as the meat cleaver attack on former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to, the sacking of Commercial Radio host Li Wei-ling, and advertising boycotts against Apple Daily and am730 as troubling incidents.

Press freedoms need to be protected more than ever

Most recently on July 2, reporters were cordoned off when they tried to report on the arrests the day after the march in Central.

Journalists claimed that when they agreed to go into a press area, police officers formed a human wall around them so that they could not get a clear view of what was happening.

Tensions seem to be rising between society and the authorities and the media is caught in between. Journalists are trying to report on what they see or to verify something and most of the time they are met with silence or prevented from doing their jobs.

The media culture in Hong Kong feels like it is being "mainlandized", where most inquiries aren't even acknowledged and reporters have to read between the lines when officials speak.

The less accurate information that gets out, the less trust people have in Hong Kong, resulting in less investment and confidence in the city. It's a domino effect we can't afford to let happen.

There will probably be more marches for press freedom in the coming months, but in the meantime we must support journalists who are on the front lines who are trying to find out what is really going on for us to know.

HK's Erosion of Free Press

Radio host Li Wei-ling was fired, but the station gave no plausible reason

Hong Kong's press freedoms continue to erode with the sacking of Commercial Radio host Li Wei-ling Wednesday afternoon.

She finished her show, went out for lunch and soon afterwards received a call that her services were no longer needed. She wasn't even allowed to go back to the station to collect her personal belongings.

Sources say Li was calm about it. On her Facebook page she wrote: "Although they can ruthlessly remove me from my position, they can't stop me from monitoring Hong Kong's current affairs."

The Journalists Association said it was "highly concerned" about the dismissal, saying the station's lack of explanation was "not responsible".

"Commercial Radio's abrupt and ruthless sacking of Li was shocking," said lawmaker and former journalist Claudia Mo Man-ching. "There was not even a notice period for her."

The sacking came less than three months after Li was controversially moved from the prime-time breakfast program On A Clear Day to the less popular Tipping Point which she joined early in her career with the company.

The incident follows on the heels of Ming Pao, where the paper moved its chief editor Kevin Lau Chun-to to the online division, and now at the helm as deputy editor is Chong Tien Siong, a Malaysian with no local experience.

Staff at the 55-year-old paper protested by organizing rallies and petitions. Columnists such as Martin Lee Chu-ming, the Democratic Party's founding chairman left his space blank in the paper to show their discontent.

Chong is considered pro-establishment and so journalists at the paper are concerned of the future of Ming Pao, as well as the new editor's lack of local experience.

What is going on in Hong Kong? How have press freedoms eroded so quickly -- less than 20 years after the handover?

Back in 2003 everyone was united under one cause -- opposing Article 23 -- the subversion law.

But now there are so many issues people are worried about -- pollution, landfills, inflation, housing, democracy, the mainland invasion, national education and press freedoms, so it is hard to build a strong base to fight against them effectively.

However press freedom is so crucial to having a civil society. That is how the community can be sure the government, corporations and others can be held accountable for their actions and give ordinary people a voice.

Li was known as an active government critic. She used the airwaves to voice her discontent with the Leung Chun-ying administration -- but she was also probably voicing the opinions of hundreds of thousands of other people.

The government needs to hear these criticisms whether it likes it or not; only then can it improve on its governance.

When there is no outlet for people to voice their true opinions then you get a place like China, where protestors have to go to more extreme lengths to have their voices heard. Does Hong Kong want to have a reputation for having black jails and persecuting critics by locking them up or harassing them and their loved ones to no end on taxpayers' expense?

We are living in One Country, Two Systems. Let us, Hong Kong, show China what a civil society is, that we can flourish economically and socially because we have things like freedom of speech, rule of law and a free press.

Because of these assurances, this is what makes Hong Kong and truly international city. When these values start to erode then trust in the city starts to fade and investment disappears... and it could soon morph into another Chinese city.

Is this what Hong Kong wants?

Blatant Switch

Stephen Chan is not only chief executive of Commercial Radio but host too

Last night as I sat down to dinner in a hotel restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui east, across from us was Stephen Chan Chi-wan, head of Commercial Radio and now morning show radio host.

He looked jovial with his dining partner as they powered through dinner and left before we did even though they sat down after us.

Nevertheless he is currently in the hot seat after he removed popular morning show talk show host Lee Wei-ling with himself and placed her in the evening slot starting on Monday.

Lee is a well-known government critic and very popular. However, there are rumours that part of the deal for Commercial Radio to renew its broadcast license in 2016 was to remove Lee from the prime-time morning show, though the station denies this.

Not only was that an outrage, but how Chan did it which is even more out of line.

Oh Monday during her debut on her evening program, Lee claimed chief executive Chan had threatened to fire her in a series of text messages if she did not accept the new position.

"At one point, he said that if I did not go to the press conference that day [announcing the change], he would have no choice but to fire me," Lee said on Monday evening during her show with co-host Elizabeth Wong Kit-wai.

However Chan said the message, which said he would "have no option but to end our contractual relationship" if she did not take the evening hosting duties, was an attempt to ensure she confirmed arrangements for a meeting and press conference.

"Briefing her on the new assignment in my office, I felt that she was comfortable accepting it -- and had agreed to attend a working meeting and a press conference scheduled for the afternoon," Chan said.

However later on Friday he could not get in touch with her and sent her a text message at 2.39pm demanding that she get back to him by 3pm. And if she did not, he texted that he would consider that she had rejected the new assignment.

"Management-wise I needed to know," Chan said. "If she was not accepting the move I would have to explain it to the media."

In the end Lee did reply 14 minutes later that she accepted the new job, but would not attend the press conference.

Chan says Lee was moved for strategic and administrative reasons (how much more vague can one get!), but Lee believes it was politically motivated.

"I do not think it would be surprising to conclude Leung Chun-ying's administration dislikes me," Lee said, adding that government officials had "warned" her to "be careful of her job".

Lee said she "lost control" after being told of the move and didn't want to attend the press conference as she was "emotionally reluctant to face my bosses" and "did not want to cry in front of the public".

While she admitted it would be "difficult" to continue as a presenter, she felt "obliged to uphold freedom of speech". "I hope the public will stand by my side," she said.

The way Chan went about the shuffling Lee around may have been a ploy to rush her into a situation where she didn't have enough time to think things through so he could still retain her for her popularity but just not have her in the prime-time slot.

Either way he did it in the most insensitive way possible -- but then again many bosses in Hong Kong can be like this in order to have their cake and and eat it too. What he did was threatening and possibly illegal. Who gives someone 21 minutes to decide whether they want to keep their job or not?

In the end Lee is now in a difficult position, but much like Ricky Wong Wai-kay, whose HKTV failed in its bid for a free-to-air TV license, she will become yet another defiant hero in the eyes of Hong Kong people.