(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), as both a public service broadcaster and a government department, has to comply with all relevant government rules and regulations as well as the Charter of Radio Television Hong Kong.

Speaking to the media ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning, Mrs Lam addressed recent concerns over the programming arrangement of RTHK.

“Radio Television Hong Kong is a public broadcaster. Over the years, it has produced programmes which we all love, but RTHK is also a government department. Whether it’s a government department or a public broadcaster, RTHK has to follow rules, regulations and guidelines.”

She stressed that as a public service broadcaster, RTHK must abide by its charter.

“And particularly RTHK has signed a charter - not only with the Government, but also with the Broadcasting Authority. In the charter, there are several rules it has to follow.

“So it is for us all, including the Director of Broadcasting, to make sure that the rules and regulations in the charter are being followed.”

The Chief Executive explained that the Director of Broadcasting is not only a department head, but also the chief editor of RTHK.

“He has also been given the mandate, the position and the responsibility of a chief editor. So in other words, whatever programmes come out of RTHK that are not fulfilling or breaching those rules and regulations or even breaching the law, then the Director of Broadcasting has to be held responsible.

“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 a chief editor of RTHK.”