RTHK under scrutiny for 'censoring' singers

Public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong was called on by a lawmaker to clarify whether it banned its disc jockeys from playing the songs of 10 artists.

A Facebook page reported on Tuesday that DJs at RTHK were told that they cannot play any songs from a list of 10 singers, including singer-activist Anthony Wong Yiu-ming, Denise Ho Wan-see and Wong's music duo Tat Ming Pair.

As a former board member of shuttered online media outlet Stand News, Ho was arrested last month for conspiracy to publish seditious content and later released on bail.

The groups Rubberband and C AllStar are also on the supposed list, along with band Dear Jane. The latter had a song taken off the air in the mainland last year as it featured words such as "chaos" and "confront." Singers Charmaine Fong Ho-man, Serrini, Kay Tse On-kay and Alfred Hui Ting-hang are also on the list.

A DJ confirmed to local media that a banned list exists and that the station vets the guests who are invited to programs.

Political party Third Side urged the public broadcaster to clarify. "It is inappropriate for any media to censor local music without valid reasons," the party wrote in a statement yesterday. "Making music has to happen with freedom of creativity."

Lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen, a member of the RTHK board of advisers, has written to director of broadcasting Patrick Li Pak-chuen asking for an explanation.

Earlier, RTHK said that "program hosts choose songs based on professionalism and suitability."

Serrini, also known as Serruria Leung Ka-yan, joked that she would change her name.

Additionally, RTHK will co-organize its annual music awards show for the first time with TV station TVB in April.