Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) is Hong Kong’s national broadcaster. It was established in 1928 as the first broadcasting service in Hong Kong. Today, RTHK broadcasts seven radio channels and two television channels.
Media assets
Television: TV 31, TV 32, TV33, TV34, TV35
Radio: Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio 5, Putonghua Channel, CNR/HK, CMG/RGB
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
The RTHK is a government department under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Government. The Bureau is responsible for implementing the Hong Kong Government’s trade-related policies.
The main governing body at RTHK is its Board of Advisors, which is appointed by the Director of Broadcasting in accordance with the RTHK Charter approved in August 2010.
The Board of Advisors has 14 members and serves in an advisory capacity, without executive authority. The Board of Advisors’ primary responsibilities include providing guidance to the Director of Broadcasting on matters pertaining to editorial principles, addressing complaints related to RTHK programs, and offering recommendations to the Director of Broadcasting on community engagement in RTHK programs.
The Director of Broadcasting holds an ex officio position on the Board. The Director of Broadcasting is appointed by the Chief Executive, who serves as the head of the Hong Kong Government.
Source of funding and budget
RTHK is fully funded by the Hong Kong government. In the 2019-2020 fiscal year, RTHK received a government subsidy of HKD 1.02bn (US$ 131.7m), according to the broadcaster’s budget.
In the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the broadcaster’s budget was cut by nearly 5% to HKD 995m (US$126.8m), according to media reports. However, two years later, in the 2022/2023 fiscal year, RTHK’s budget increased to about HKD 1.08bn (US$ 137m), according to a company report. In the 2023/2024 fiscal year, RTHK had a budget of HKD 1.19bn (US$ 152m), according to data from the company.
Editorial independence
RTHK has a longstanding reputation for editorial independence, having received numerous commendations in this regard. Guided by a framework of editorial policies and the assurances of independence outlined in the RTHK charter, the station has been widely recognized for its commitment to editorial autonomy.
However, over the past three years, the broadcaster has faced significant government pressure, primarily from Beijing. The previous chair of the RTHK Advisory Board, replaced in August 2020, is said to have encouraged RTHK to provide more positive coverage of the recently implemented national security law imposed by China on Hong Kong.
In June 2020, an RTHK program was discontinued as a result of complaints from the police force. In August 2020, RTHK removed an interview with a human rights activist who was sought by the police.
In the past three years, the government has exercised its editorial control over RTHK with a high degree of consistency, resulting in numerous instances of censorship (or self-censorship).
Following the appointment of Patrick Li, an experienced civil servant, as director of broadcasting in February 2021, a number of journalists resigned, resulting in a significant shift in the atmosphere at the station. This was reported by Hong Kong Watch, an NGO, in April 2022.
A number of previous programs broadcast by RTHK have been removed from all online platforms. The station’s journalists have been directed to adhere to a series of programming guidelines that have resulted in the loss of the station’s editorial independence. The station also holds financially liable staff members who produce programs that are subsequently censored. This measure is intended to discourage journalists from addressing sensitive issues.
A study released in June 2022 revealed a decline in public trust in RTHK, with a current rating of 53% compared to 59% in 2021.
In accordance with the RTHK Charter, RTHK is committed to fulfilling its public service mission, which entails acting as an impartial platform for the exchange of views “without fear or favor.”
The charter also stipulates that RTHK must be permitted editorial independence. It outlines a series of editorial principles that the station is expected to adhere to. The Director of Broadcasting is responsible for ensuring RTHK’s editorial independence and for making the final editorial decisions.
However, over the past two years, all of these measures designed to guarantee editorial independence have been disregarded.
RTHK employs a variety of methods to assess its performance independently, with the most significant being the Television Appreciation Index Advisory Panel. This panel, led by RTHK and comprising representatives from local television stations, industry associations, and academia, conducts regular audience surveys to gauge public perception of the station.
Additionally, the RTHK Programming Advisory Panel, comprising 140 members from diverse fields, monitors RTHK programs and advocates on the station’s behalf. This panel has, for instance, repeatedly requested increased funding from the HK government to enable the broadcaster to fulfill its public service obligations.
September 2024