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"Headline News" accused of insulting police, warned RTHK and seeking review and ruling to win the case

2021-11-25T07:59:44.317Z


The Communications Bureau ruled that an episode of the RTHK program "Headline News" last year slandered and insulted the police, and issued a warning to RTHK. The Radio Television Hong Kong Trade Union and the Records Association filed a judicial review in this regard, demanding that the CA's decision be overturned. Union hostage


The Communications Bureau ruled that an episode of the RTHK program "Headline News" last year slandered and insulted the police, and issued a warning to RTHK.

The Radio Television Hong Kong Trade Union and the Records Association filed a judicial review in this regard, demanding that the CA's decision be overturned.

The trade union questioned that "Headline News" was a show satirizing current malpractices, but the Communications Bureau classified "Headline News" as a personal opinion program and handled complaints based on the wrong standards.

After hearing the submission earlier, the judge issued a verdict today (25th), and part of the union's application was ruled in favor.


Wupin Sesame Official Partial Review Wins

The Communications Bureau ruled earlier that the two parts of the episodes involved in the "Headline News", namely "No Pin Zhi Guan" and "Jian Fang Message", violated the "Television Broadcasting Code."

The judge believed that the ruling on the part of the "No Pin Zhi Guan" was unsound and overturned the bureau's ruling.

The judge believes that when judging whether the program content is in violation of regulations, the bureau has the responsibility to verify whether the content of the complaint is false or incorrect.

The bureau's decision on the "No-Pin Sesame Officer" did not make a ruling on the accuracy of the facts mentioned in the program. This part of the program mentioned whether the police had sufficient supply of masks.

However, when the bureau considered it, there was no evidence to prove that the relevant information was incorrect, nor did it prove that RTHK had not tried its best to verify the accuracy of the information. Therefore, the bureau's ruling in this part was considered unstable.

RTHK had invited the police to respond to being considered

In addition, RTHK twice invited the police to respond or clarify the content, but the police refused and ignored their invitation.

However, according to the correspondence from the Communications Bureau, they did not take this move by RTHK into consideration.

The judge believed that RTHK had invited the police to explain its position, showing that they had tried to present the incident from different angles. This is a factor that the bureau must consider when considering whether RTHK violated the regulations. However, the bureau did not take it into consideration and it was unfair.

Did not ask the bureau to reconsider

However, the judge will not ask the Communications Bureau to reconsider the overturned ruling.

He pointed out that RTHK has announced the suspension of the production of "Headline News" and it is unlikely that the program will be resumed. He believes that it will be of no practical use if it is returned to the Communications Bureau for consideration.

As to whether the CA will reconsider, it is up to the bureau to decide.

The applicant is the Hong Kong and Taiwan Program Producers Union and the Hong Kong Journalists Association, and the respondent is the Communications Bureau.

The episode involved was broadcast on February 14 last year. On May 19 of the same year, the Communications Bureau ruled that the episode slandered and insulted the police and other complaints were established and issued a warning to RTHK.

"Headline News" was complained of insulting the police and the applicant's arguments.

(See the picture below for details)

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Believe that the bureau handles complaints according to wrong standards

The applicant’s earlier submission stated that "Headline News" is a show that satirizes the current ills, reflecting public opinions in exaggerated and comical ways, or joking to entertain the audience. No one would regard all the content as facts and point to such programs. There should be greater tolerance.

However, the bureau classified "Headline News" as a personal opinion program and handled complaints based on the wrong standards.

The content does not incite others to hate the police

The applicant emphasized that the relevant content did not incite others to hate the police.

Although the host Wang Xi appeared from the trash can in the "Shocking Message" wearing a uniform similar to that of a police officer, if he did this to laugh at the police, the host could appear in the landfill.

The bureau pointed out that the headline news has been classified as a personal opinion program

The representative of the Communications Bureau responded that the bureau members are composed of teachers and media workers from different sectors and have experience in handling related complaints.

RTHK enjoys editorial autonomy and also needs to abide by the "Television Broadcasting Code".

In addition, in 2001, RTHK classified "Headline News" as a personal opinion program.

The show is still affected by social events when it is broadcast

In addition, when the episodes involved were broadcast, Hong Kong was still affected by the social riots in 2019, and the relationship between the police and the public was torn.

The chairperson, wearing a uniform similar to that of a police officer, appeared in the trash can, undoubtedly defaming the police.

The bureau also pointed out that Hong Kong and Taiwan are government agencies and do not enjoy the freedom of speech guaranteed by the Basic Law.

Case number: HCAL1658/2020

The headline news of RTHK was criticized and the police union said that the satirical program using the wrong standard should be more tolerated. The headline news was dismissed. The insult to the police officer was established and the complaint was issued. The former host of "Headline News", Zeng Zhihao, left Hong Kong and went to Taiwan. Last month, he was suddenly dismissed from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Dismissed from Hong Kong and Taiwan: Liang Jizhang and 3 others return to madness Show

01News

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2021-11-25

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