Symposium of “Governance, Financing and Accountability of Public Service Broadcasting in Hong Kong”

Public service broadcasting (PSB) plays an important role in providing alternative and diversified programming, strengthening social consciousness, elevating Hong Kong culture, and enhancing the taste of the media market. At present, RTHK plays a public broadcasting role in Hong Kong. How RTHK could improve its efficiency based on the fundamental values of public service broadcasting to ensure full development of PSB is worthy of informed deliberation.

On June 1, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University, School of Journalism and Communication, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Public Policy Research Centre, Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong jointly held a symposium on “Governance, Financing and Accountability of Public Service Broadcasting in Hong Kong” to address the related issues. Nearly 100 participants were brought to the event, including Mr. Raymond R. Wong, Chairman of Committee on Review of Public Service Broadcasting, Ms. Emily Lau, Legislative Councilor and senior media workers.

The symposium was composed of two sessions moderated respectively by Prof. Georgette Wang and Prof. Leonard Chu from School of Communication, HKBU. During the first session, Ms. Eve Salomon from Better Regulation Communication, Mr. David Barlow from Public Broadcasters International, Prof. S.C. Weng from Journalism Department in College of Communication of National Chengchi University, Taiwan, and Ms. Elizabeth Smith from Commonwealth Broadcasting Association introduced overseas experiences of PSB.

The future trend of PSB in Hong Kong was discussed during the second section. Four local scholars introduced their research and opinions in this respect . They are Dr. Timothy K.Y. Wong from Public Policy Research Centre, Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, CUHK, Dr. Yan Mei Ning from Journalism Department , School of Communication of HKBU, Dr. Cheung Chor Yung from Division of Social Studies , City University of Hong Kong, and Prof. Clement Y.K. So from School of Journalism and Communication , CUHK.