The Hong Kong government has asked employees of public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) to decide by Thursday (Feb. 18) whether to sign a declaration of allegiance to the SAR government, the Voice of America has learned.
The Civil Service Bureau formally announced last month that Hong Kong civil servants would be required to make a declaration of allegiance to the government this month, following the political turmoil in Hong Kong in recent years. Those pledges include support for the Basic Law, allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, loyalty to duty and accountability to the Hong Kong government.
A spokesman for the Radio Television Hong Kong Programmers Union, which represents Hong Kong radio broadcasters, told VOA that such an oath “conflicts with the duties of a public broadcaster” and could be a way to “criminalize civil servants who criticize the current policy. The spokesman for the RTHK Program Staff Union told the Voice of America that such an oath “conflicts with the duties of a public broadcaster” and could be “a legal tool to criminalize civil servants who criticize current policies.
According to Hong Kong media, advocating Hong Kong’s independence, refusing to recognize China’s sovereignty over Hong Kong, requesting intervention by outside forces or engaging in activities that endanger national security are all acts that do not support the Basic Law.
A union spokesman said RTHK was in a “difficult situation” because of the unclear interpretation of the law and the fact that the oath might call into question the station’s future editorial independence.
As a member of the press, it is difficult to avoid reporting on government misconduct and failures,” the spokesman said. Even if we just convey information, or convey people’s critical views of the government, it can still cause problems.”
The spokesman added: “Despite our current difficult situation, RTHK remains committed to serving the public with the professional standards of journalism.”
Several RTHK staff members, who asked not to be named, said most would sign the statement due to the impact of the New crown outbreak.
One of the employees told the Voice of America, “I guess 80 percent of the people will sign the statement for financial reasons.” Another employee said that “two people” would not sign the statement.
Under the “one country, two systems” agreement signed between Britain and China, China promised Hong Kong would maintain a high degree of autonomy until 2047 after its return to China in 1997.
But after massive anti-government protests broke out in 2019, Beijing wants to make sure such riots don’t happen again. Hong Kong began implementing a National Security Law that punishes any act that China considers to be secession, subversion of state power, terrorism or collusion with foreign powers with a maximum penalty of Life imprisonment.
Radio Television Hong Kong has been under pressure from the government in recent years. In an interview with a World health Organization official last March, a RTHK reporter asked whether the organization would reconsider Taiwan‘s membership. The government subsequently criticized the journalist for opposing the “one-China” policy.
In April, the Communications Authority of Hong Kong criticized a television program for being biased against police officers. In May, a prominent political satire program was taken off the air due to further complaints from the government.
The government-funded broadcaster’s journalists also came under government scrutiny. Last November, independent producer Chua Ngoc Leng was arrested by police for alleged violations in using a government database to conduct research for a documentary.
News anchor Nabela Qoser’s original civil service contract was terminated amid complaints that she had harshly questioned government officials, and investigations are continuing.
A Radio Television Hong Kong employee said signing the statement would put employees in danger of facing the same “fate” as Lee.
If they can do this to Lijunga, the government can do the same to us,” the employee said. Many colleagues are very worried about this.”
The changes within RTHK will continue, and many employees see an uncertain future. Lee Pak-chuen, deputy secretary of the Home Affairs Bureau, will replace Leung Ka-wing as director of Hong Kong Broadcasting on March 1. Leung Ka-wing’s contract was due to expire in August, but he will leave early by mutual agreement.
Uncertainty over the boundaries of the National Security Law has created an atmosphere of tension at Radio Television Hong Kong.
People are starting to become silent and no longer criticize the SAR government or government management as openly as they used to,” said one employee. We never know who will subsequently report you.”
China’s State Administration of Radio and Television (SARFT) recently decided not to allow BBC World News to remain in the country. Radio Hong Kong also followed the lead of the State Administration of Radio and Television and stopped rebroadcasting BBC programs.
Chinese official media Xinhua reported that the BBC was banned because some of its reports were in serious violation of the Regulations on Radio and Television Administration and the Measures on the Administration of Landing Overseas Satellite TV Channels. Earlier, China had criticized the BBC for its coverage of the New Crown Epidemic and its treatment of Uighurs.
“A spokesman for the Radio Television Hong Kong Programme Staff Union said it was “probably the first Time that Hong Kong media have followed the decision of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television“.
While one employee expressed understanding for the decision, the employee also said the future of the media was a concern if Hong Kong continued to follow Beijing’s model.
I can understand that because there is now a National Security Law,” the employee said. If we continue to work under these measures, I would be very worried. I think there will be more people giving up on journalism.”
Just before China banned BBC World News from landing in the country, British media regulator Ofcom revoked China’s Global TV network’s license to broadcast in the UK. After an investigation, Ofcom found that the licensee was not solely responsible for the content broadcast by the network.
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