The Electoral Affairs Commission has censured Radio Television Hong Kong for breaching electoral rules during the Sham Shui Po District Council by-election on April 6.

Only one of the three candidates in the Mei Foo Constituency was invited to speak on its City Forum programme on March 23.

Commission chairman Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing said RTHK breached the 'equal time' and 'no unfair advantage' principles, as stipulated in the Guidelines on Election-related Activities in respect of the 1999 District Councils Election, which are applicable to the by-election.

In its defence, RTHK said City Forum is a current-affairs programme, not an election broadcast, and as such should not be covered by the guidelines.

It further contended that the two other candidates in the by-election were not invited because neither the programme itself nor the particular episode concerned was election-related, and that therefore no breach occurred.

The Commission found that RTHK has either completely misunderstood or it has deliberately flouted the guidelines.

Mr Justice Woo said: "Its explanations are not sufficient to exculpate itself. As a public organisation, RTHK's breach, whatever the reason may be, is inexcusable and should be censured."