The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) announced today (May 28) that the Government will establish a dedicated team to review the governance and management of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) so as to ensure that its public broadcasting services fully abide by the Charter of RTHK (the Charter).

     "The management and the programme contents of RTHK has aroused wide public concern recently. The Audit Commission made a number of key recommendations on RTHK in October 2018 regarding its low TV ratings and public awareness, programme performance evaluation, procurement of survey services, and engagement of contract staff/service providers. These Audit recommendations are not yet fully implemented," a spokesman for the CEDB said.

     "The Communications Authority (CA) also gave a serious warning to RTHK for its TV programme 'Pentaprism' broadcast on November 20, 2019, and a warning for the 'Headliner' broadcast on February 14, 2020, urging RTHK to strictly observe the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Standards.

     "The CEDB took the view that RTHK must address the public concern over its programmes as well as the department's governance and management. RTHK must follow up on the matters in a proactive and positive manner, and conduct a review to ensure that it fully abides by the Charter, duly meets its responsibility as a public service broadcaster and strictly complies with the relevant codes of practice issued by the CA. The establishment of the review team will help RTHK carry out these tasks," the spokesman said.

     RTHK is a government department under the policy purview and housekeeping oversight of the CEDB as stipulated in paragraphs 10 to 12 of the Charter. The review team will be led by a senior directorate officer and comprise officers from various grades of the Government. It will report to the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Creative Industries).

     The scope of the review is as follows:
     
(1) to review RTHK's administration, including financial control, human resources management and procurement matters to ensure that its manpower and resource deployment complies with all applicable Government rules and regulations, and that such deployment is made for the effective delivery of services under programme areas as set out in paragraphs 17 to 20 of the Charter, and where necessary, to identify scope for improvement;

(2) to review RTHK's progress of implementing the recommendations of the Report No. 71 of the Director of Audit, including the need for a transparent and objective system for setting performance targets and benchmarks for measuring results; and

(3) to review RTHK's overall management systems, processes and practices, making reference to best practices of other public service broadcasters, to ensure full compliance with the Charter and the codes of practice on programming standards issued by the CA.

     "The review will commence in mid-2020 and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The review team will submit a report to the CEDB upon completion of its work. The Director of Broadcasting will provide full support to the exercise. Members of the review team will not take part in any programme production or editorial decisions of RTHK," the spokesman said.

     The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) hotline service under the Special Preventive Programme of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will be suspended from 6pm to 9pm tomorrow (May 29) for a maintenance check.

     The service will resume after maintenance.

     The free and anonymous AIDS hotline (2780 2211) provides information on AIDS and sexually transmitted infections and a Human Immunodeficiency Virus antibody testing booking service to the public.

     The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for a three-year licence of a fee-paying public car park on portions of the ground floor and the basement of North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong.

     The premises should be used for the purposes of a fee-paying public car park for the parking of private cars.

     The tender notice was uploaded today (May 28) to the Agency's website: www.gpa.gov.hk. Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency's website.

     Interested tenderers who wish to attend a site inspection should make a prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 3842 6775 on or before June 5 this year.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box situated on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on June 18 this year. Late tenders will not be accepted.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 28) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     Some netizens, earlier on, called on the public to block different major carriageways in various parts of Hong Kong yesterday morning (May 27), with an attempt to paralyse traffic and obstruct Police so as to block the Legislative Council.

     Since midnight yesterday, numerous illegal acts happened in various districts of Hong Kong. Some rioters set fire to miscellaneous objects and hurled large objects into MTR railroad. Some endangered road safety by putting nails on roads to puncture car tyres while some drivers staged slow-drive protests outside the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. Some placed hard objects at train doors to obstruct train services. Some people were found possessing weapons including suspected petrol bombs and hammer during Police patrol.

     At around 1pm, crowds occupied the carriageways in the vicinity of Pedder Street, Central, placing large miscellaneous objects including rubbish bins and traffic cones onto carriageways, obstructing traffic. Police urged them to cease gathering and leave. Having given numerous warnings but in vain, Police conducted dispersal actions and deployed minimum necessary force including pepper ball gun to stop the unlawful and violent acts. At the same time, some people gathered in the vicinity of Hennessey Road near Percival Street, Causeway Bay and behaved in a disorderly manner, breaching public peace.

     At around 2.45pm, protestors occupied carriageways of Nathan Road, Mong Kok and placed trash on the road. At around 4.30pm, protestors occupied Nathan Road again by placing massive amount of trash, carton boxes and road signages to obstruct carriageways.

     At night, protestors occupied and blocked carriageways in the vicinity of Nathan Road and Sai Yeung Choi Street again. Protestors placed and set fire to miscellaneous objects at the junction of Nelson Street and Fa Yuen Street, obstructing nearby traffic.

     At around 9pm , rioters set fire to trash such as cardboards and styrofoam on Sai Yeung Choi Street South near Argyle Street, Mong Kok. Multiple explosions were heard. From observations at scene, a gas canister was found on the ground near the fire. Police maintained the order at scene and directed reporters and bystanders in the vicinity to step back and stay away from the fire. The fire was put out by firemen but the visible burnt marks and piles of ashes remained on the ground.

     As at 9.30pm yesterday, Police have arrested over 360 people for offences including possession of offensive weapons, possession of instruments fit for unlawful purpose, unlawful assembly and participating in an unauthorised assembly. Three vehicles have been towed away by Police.

     Police strongly condemn malicious acts of rioters and will not tolerate any illegal actions that disrupt public peace. Police will take resolute enforcement actions against offenders by conducting arrests and bringing them to justice.