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.
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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 Pinzhiguan" was unsound and overturned the ruling of the Bureau, while the ruling on the "shocked party message" was upheld.
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.
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.
"Headline News" was complained of insulting the police and the applicant's arguments.
(See the picture below for details)
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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
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