Broadcast blueprint: Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology John Tsang said the Government will formulate a public service broadcasting development roadmap for public consultation based on the panel's review.

The Chief Executive has appointed a seven-member independent committee, chaired by Raymond Wong, to review public service broadcasting in Hong Kong, Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology John Tsang says.

Committee members include Chan King-cheung, May Fung, Professor Leung Tin-wai, Pao Wan-lung, Professor Judy Tsui and Mathias Woo.

Mr Tsang said the committee would examine the justifications for public service broadcasting in the development of the local broadcasting market, and its role and purposes compared with the resources required.

The panel will discuss issues relating to the service's public accountability on editorial impartiality, programming policy, good governance and measures for the Administration to evaluate its effectiveness.

Review professional, impartial & pragmatic

The committee will recommend an appropriate arrangement for providing this service in Hong Kong, and plans for its short-, medium- and long-term implementation.

Mr Tsang stressed the review will be conducted from a macro-perspective and on a high-level, which will not be limited to Radio Television Hong Kong.

"We expect the independent committee to approach the review in a professional, impartial and pragmatic manner.

"Based on the review outcome, the Government will formulate a roadmap for the development of public service broadcasting for public consultation before implementation," Mr Tsang said.

Public interest oriented

He pointed out public service broadcasting should be public interest oriented, cater to the needs of different audience groups and serve as a benchmark for the industry in terms of programming quality.

"In Hong Kong, we do not have a clear policy on public service broadcasting. The transmission of such service is provided by RTHK, a government department, while the free-to-air commercial broadcasters are required to offer prescribed amounts of public-interest programmes.

"With the changes in the broadcasting market in recent years, there is an urgent need for us to examine the pertinent issues relating to the development of public service broadcasting in Hong Kong," Mr Tsang said.

Mr Tsang pointed out the subject of public service broadcasting has been politicised in Hong Kong, at the expense of professional and systematic analysis. 

"We need to conduct a proper analysis and review. We need to formulate a clear policy framework for public service broadcasting in facilitating both its future development and that of the broadcasting industry," he said.

Government remains open-minded

Mr Tsang said setting up an independent committee to study public service broadcasting's development in depth and comprehensively of  is considered the best way forward.

"There is no government official on the committee. Members include experienced media professionals, an expert in corporate governance and a cross-media creative artist.

"The Government looks forward to the outcome of the review with an open mind. We hope that through the active involvement of the public in the review process, the community will gain a deeper understanding of public service broadcasting," Mr Tsang said.

On whether the committee will study the corporatisation of RTHK and editorial policy of individual programmes, Mr Tsang reiterated it will be a macro-perspective and high-level review, not targeting RTHK as a broadcaster.

Challenging task: chairman

Committee Chairman Raymond Wong said the task ahead is challenging as they have to find ways to properly position public broadcasting in Hong Kong so that it may, with finite funding, provide the best and most appropriate programming for the community at large.

He said the committee would make recommendations on the structure, funding, governance, management, programming, monitoring and accountability of the public broadcaster.

Mr Wong hoped these recommendations would address the immediate, medium and long-term public broadcasting needs of Hong Kong, regardless of the ever-evolving demographics of the territory or the rapidly advancing delivery technology.