Journo fires back over RTHK axing

Michael Shum

Veteran journalist Allan Au Ka-lun said he was fired from a RTHK radio show for comments he made outside the job.

This came after RTHK axed Au from the current affairs program Open Line Open View, which he had hosted for 11 years.

In response to media inquiries about Au's sacking, the public broadcaster said it reviews its programs and staff arrangements from time to time. The issue is an internal matter, RTHK added.

Speaking on another radio program yesterday, Au said he believes he was fired because of commentaries he wrote while he was not hosting the radio show.

"I did not bring my personal views or content from my commentaries into the show. I was merely raising questions as a host and speaking the truth on the show but RTHK management is quite sensitive," Au said.

RTHK's management is pulling out all the stops to silence dissent, he said, adding that he is saddened by the situation there and Hong Kong as a whole. He was worried that similar incidents will happen in the future and affect the quality of public broadcasting.

Edward Yau Tang-wah, who heads the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau that oversees RTHK, said the broadcaster is autonomous when it comes to programming and added that his bureau does not get involved in decision-making.

Besides being a program host, Au is also a commentator known for his pro-democracy views and a professional consultant at Chinese University's journalism school. He was previously a producer, editor and news host at TVB.

One episode of Open Line Open View attracted 426 complaints for alleged bias, being supportive of Hong Kong independence and inciting hatred against police.

Those complaints were later found to be groundless by the Communications Authority.

This came after Tsang Chi-ho, the former host of RTHK's satirical show Headliner and the radio program Crazy and Happy, was fired by the public broadcaster on June 18.

RTHK Talk Show, a program covering history, philosophy and literature, among others, also ended months after Patrick Li Pak-chuen, who previously served as deputy secretary for home affairs, replaced media veteran Leung Ka-wing and took over the reins at RTHK on February 19.

Meanwhile, Fung Wai-kong, 57, a former Apple Daily editorial writer and the editor-in-chief of its English section, was released on police bail at around 6pm yesterday.

According to sources, he was released on HK$200,000 bail by the police, with all his travelling documents confiscated, and must report to Wan Chai Police Station on July 26. He did not respond to media questions.

Fung, who used the pen name "Lo Fung" to write editorials for Apple Daily and columns for online news outlet Citizen News, was arrested at the airport on Sunday under the national security law for "colluding with foreign forces." He was reportedly about to fly to Britain.

His Shatin home was searched on Monday.