Police Criticize RTHK's Headliner for Defaming the Force

Watch “Shock Report” subtitled by BWHK
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/18441

The Hong Kong Police Force issued a letter to Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), severely criticising the latter's programme Headliner, broadcast on 14 Feb, for defamation. The sentiment was echoed on Facebook by former Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who accused Director of Broadcasting Leung Ka-wing of serious misconduct, "I suggest the government should fire him and the police should sue".

The letter says that "Headliner completely disregards the police's efforts to fight the new coronavirus outbreak. The programme confounds right and wrong, which is entirely unacceptable. In the session called 'Shock Report' misinformation is presented on purpose to diffuse the joint efforts made by various government units to combat the virus. We express our deep regret and hope to see follow-up actions taken by the Director of Broadcasting."

The host of "Shock Report", named Honour Duty-loyalty (acted by Wong He), combines black humour with sarcasm to bring out that the police's work during the outbreak is always assisted and "substituted" by other units. In the beginning Wong emerged from a rubbish bin to start his introduction: "In this year of the rat, when the coronavirus outbreak is plaguing the world, it is great to see you and I wish all of you can find a healthy, carefree job."

Former Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said that Headliner attempted to ruin the police's reputation. After the police lodged a complaint, RTHK "defended" itself by explaining it was the nature of Headliner to reflect social phenomena by means of sarcasm. However, Leung said that "phenomena" must be facts and "sarcasm" must be based on facts. Fabrication of facts is called libel. Kwok Ka-chuen, Chief Superintendent of Police, wrote a letter on behalf of the Commissioner of Police to the Director of Broadcasting to condemn the programme's repeated mockery of the police's performance during the outbreak, "We express deep regret for such biased reporting".

Ng Man-yee, Head of Corporate Communications of RTHK, replied Stand News that they had already received the complaint letter from the police. They also understood the hard work performed by the police and other government units during the outbreak. She said Headliner is committed to reflecting social phenomena based on different voices of society, often in the forms of irony, humour and sarcasm.

RTHK Programme Staff Union hopes that the police will look squarely at public criticisms, and respect RTHK's professionalism and editorial independence. The police should not pick on RTHK, instead they should focus on how to protect public interest. Tsang Chi-ho, one of the programme hosts, responded by a video clip. He questioned why the police have stockpiled large amount of face masks and protective gowns, as well as criticised them for suppressing rightful protests, "They have long lost their conscience". Tsang urged the public to write letters to RTHK so as to show support for the programme.

Source: Stand News, Apple Daily #Feb26
https://bit.ly/2vbyUzJ

#RTHK #Headliner #TsangChiHo #PoliceState #ShockReport #WongHe #LeungChunYing

“Shock Report” from RTHK's Headliner with English subtitles

Footnote
1: In Chinese, the character for “police” is similar to the word for “menacing”.
2: The complete slogan is “Serve with Honor, Duty and Loyalty.” This is actually a sarcasm that the police doesn’t have any sense of honor, but instead only knows of obedience and loyalty like dogs.
3. Traditional way of telling time in China, which follows the sexagenary cycle. In the last year of Gengzi, the Qing government lost to the Right Power Expedition.
4. Hong Kong Police was spotted using police car to deliver CSI face masks.
5. Chief Superintendent John Tse and Senior Superintendent Kelvin Kong allegedly feasted with triad heads.
6. On January 3, A 60-year-old man was tricked into giving 210 thousand dollars to fake plainclothes officers in Tuen Mun.

Read Full Report:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/18440

#ShockReport #RTHK #Headliner #WongHe #PoliceState

#OpinionArticle #AllanAu

The Blaring Horns on Broadcast Drive

(9 Mar) Police Commissioner Chris Tang, who learned how to become a cop from Jackie Chan and Alex Fong, endorses only his type of humour. However, he refuses to tolerate the satire in RTHK’s TV programme Headliner because it has not criticised rioters over these months.

His words infer that only "balanced" reporting could be considered fair. But every programme’s design speaks to its own traditions and styles, not to mention that Headliner is a personal opinion programme. According to his logic, he would not be satisfied unless both parties are equally criticised. Now, let’s shift our attention to RTHK’s most biased, one-sided and longest-running shows, the Police Report. Over forty years, the Police Report reconstructed crime scenes for the audience. It indirectly showcased the police's bravery, effort poured into solving crimes and care towards citizens. Tang owes the RTHK gratitude for their advanced skills in repainting the picture.

//For the sake of “balance”, the Police Report should add a new segment introducing the Police Force’s new tactics... would be truly balanced and fair.

//This only shows the government’s preferential treatment of TVB.

Full Translation:
https://telegra.ph/The-Blaring-Horns-on-Broadcast-Drive-03-11

Source: InMediaHK
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1071406

Further reading:
RTHK's Headliner criticised for defaming police
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/18440
Host of "Headliner": RTHK is Facing Pressure from "Every Aspect"
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/18442

#RHTK #Headliner #PoliceReport #Censorship #FreedomOfSpeech #TVB #CreativeRights #WhiteTerror #Propaganda

'Shock Report'/ Headliner (RTHK, 2020): Hong Kong Police Commissioner Lodges his Complaint to the Public Broadcaster After Watching It

Watch the English-subtitled video here, and share it to your friends:
https://youtu.be/BNvXy7h5QPM

To many, RTHK, a public broadcaster in Hong Kong, has been producing high-quality, critical and impartial news programmes; however, the Station has been targeted by the government, the police force and the pro-Beijing camp.

Presented by former Hong Kong Royal Police Wong Hei, the video comes from RTHK's long-running commentary show "Headliners". Its depiction of the police, which many viewers in Hong Kong resonated with, has apparently infuriated the current Police Force.

With the Police Commissioner himself, along with other pro-Beijing voice, lodging complaint to RTHK, the incident raised concerns over the suppression of press freedom and the rights to expression.

Futher News Reports:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/18440

#RTHK #Headliner #ShockReport #WongHe

================
#StayHome #BeSafe

Official Youtube Channel by BeWaterHK/Guardians of Hong Kong

From first hand sightings, commentaries to parodies, our Youtube channel explains and reflects the current situation of Hong Kong.

Funny, educational, and informative, all our videos are in English or with English subtitles.

Please support us by clicking Like, Share, and Subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC49vLO6EL3Kbl6yyL2WIqKA

#EngSub #Video
Do you know RTHK's "Shock Report" has been attacked by the Hong Kong Police and the pro-Beijing camp?

We present you an English-subtitled, 3-minute version of an episode that talks about how the Hong Kong Police Force manages its finance.

Enjoy!

*"Shock Report" is a part of the popular commentary programme Headliner, produced by the public broadcaster RTHK.

#ShockReport #Headliner #RTHK

#EngSub
Watch our English-subtitled "Shock Report" from RTHK’s populat news commentary Headliner:

This episode is about Leader's Election Debate. Enjoy the show!

#ShockReport #Headliner #RTHK

#RTHK #Headliner #Censorship
Hong Kong Public Broadcaster Suspends Political Satirical Show After Being Attacked by Police and Pro-Beijing Forces

Image from the show

Ng Chi-sum, one of the key members of Headliner as well as news commentator, spoke on public broadcaster RTHK's sudden decision of halting Headliner on May 22, 2020.

Ng believes the "suspension" of the Headliner would probably be a permanent one. He added that even the programme is allowed to return one day, it would only bear the same title but without the essence and spirit.

RTHK's Headliner is a popular news commentary programme which has been running on and off for 30 years in Hong Kong. Accompanied by satirical sketches, parody songs and derivative works, the show is known for its criticism, sharpness and humour toward social issues and problems. Outspoken of governance failure, the show has amassed many keen supporters in the local population.

During the Anti-extradition bill Movement in 2019, the show continues to speak out for the public and bring spotlight to police brutality and governance crisis.

Hong Kong police commissioner Chris Tang, various police-related organizations and Beijing loyalists had through different channels reprimanded the show for "distorting" the fact and the image of the police.

Watch the English-subtitled "Shock Report" in Headliner

Since the handover in 1997, the show had been attacked by Chinese officials, China-owned media and Beijing loyalists including former Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa. Although each time these attacks sparked concerns over the gradual erosion of the freedom of speech, the tension had never amassed to the cancellation of the entire show.

On 19 May 2020, RTHK issued an apology while announcing that the long-running Headliner would be suspended until further notice. Considering the removal of episodes which the police force claimed to be "inappropriate", this somehow indicates the source of pressure and the cause of the programme suspension.

After firing on the education system and exam authorities, the Hong Kong government is also increasing its contol over the media lanscape: As a public broadcaster, RTHK has been repeatedly challenged by the authorities, despite the station's popularity, good ratings and compliments for its impartiality during Hong Kong protests.

In addition to cutting RTHK funding, the government ordered RTHK's to vacate one of its buildings in Kowloon Tong. On top of Headliner, the Education Bureau also stopped RTHK from making Education Television Program, one role RTHK has been playing for decades.

On 19 May, the government ordered a full review of RTHK's programme production and editorial processes and called for any staff found to have committed "negligence or errors" to be disciplined.

Source: Ng Chi-sum's Youtube; RTHK; Stand News #May19
#CulturalRevolution #ShockReport #NgChiSum #TsangChiHo #WongHei

Cultural Revolution 2.0: From Hong Kong Limited Edition to World Edition
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/20883

Shock Report in RTHK’s news programme Headliner: Episode on selective enforcement and “assault weapon”

#RTHK #Headliner #ShockReport #EngSub

#Headliner Farewell Its Audience

31-year-old RTHK news satire programme Headliner aired its last episode on 19 June 2020 after attacked by the pro-Beijing camp.

Host Ng Chi-sum, Tsang Chi-ho and Law Kai-sun had a 'farewell' broadcast on social media wearing their famous costumes. In the final part, RTHK staff offered them a bouquet. The hosts waved goodbye to the audience. Tsang joked that it was like the pro-democracy lawmakers waving goodbye in front of the LegCo in 1997. He suggested that they should say, “we will be back” while Law laughed and said, “we will be back…to the canteen!”

Ng and Tsang expected it to be the last episode for Headliner. Tsang felt honoured to be part of this 31-year journey, witnessing the change in media culture in Hong Kong. Ng was also proud to have joined since 2007.

"Headliner is like a tiny stone in a storm,” Ng added, "Headliner has been washed away and the storm is on its way, and now its time for Hong Kong media to get ready for this storm."

Source: Stand News #Jun19

#OpinionArticle #AllanAu

The “Evil Law Diary”: How to Destroy a News Department

(19 Jun)Clear skies, night-time in Mongkok, a lot of people queuing outside a small shop as though nothing has happened.

//I rushed back home to watch the last episode of Headliner...The Emperor’s Mother (a character in Headliner mocking Carrie Lam) said “we hope to meet again”, which was a lie. It would have been difficult to say “we will definitely come back" as it is highly uncertain.

//The world of media is wailing today.

//the show is in a dire situation and there is no specified date to meet again. Even if it does come back one day, it will for sure be under a harmonious but intolerable veneer. Perhaps, the personnel at Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) will be completely different by then.

//Today was the 25th anniversary of the Apple Daily Newspaper. A special edition was issued. Editors understood that their boss, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, is now a prime target of the power elites/gangsters. They celebrated the 25th anniversary because they cannot see a 30th anniversary celebration at this point. Someone proposed "The End of Apple Daily" as the title of the special edition. In the end, it was entitled "Not the End of Apple Daily". There is no reason to surrender. They will treat every day like it is the final one and persist.

//a retiree and former executive at TVB will be the new boss of the Now TV news department and he will bring in a team from CCTVB.

//What does an untrustworthy government which likes to lie and deceive its citizens hate the most? A credible news media for sure.

//how do you destroy a news department? The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is good at this - by replacing management, manipulating an organization’s structure through personnel changes, setting new targets, and controlling daily operations

//it is natural selection; survival of those who are obedient; an elimination of the capable ones so that the inferior will survive.

Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/The-Evil-Law-Diary-How-to-Destroy-a-News-Department-06-25

Source: Stand News

Further reading:
Headliner Farewell Its Audience
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22738
NOW TV chief Cheung Chi-kong will retire in August, former TVB Chinese team head Bill Chan takes his position
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22607

#Censorship #ChinaInfiltration #Headliner #TVB #FreedomOfPress #RTHK #NowTV #AppleDaily #ICable #NationalSecurityLaw

#PoliticalSuppression
#RTHK Fires Popular Radio and TV Host Tsang Chi-ho from #Headliner

#TsangChiHo, a popular radio and TV program host in Hong Kong, was sacked by the public broadcaster RTHK on June 18, 2021.

The sudden news shocked the audience and Tsang has confirmed it with Stand News.

Before the station terminated his employment, Tsang had been hosting the radio show "Crazy and Happy", one of the longest-running programmes,
every weekday. Tsang used to co-host the popular news commentary program Headliner, which had been taken down in 2020 due to political pressure.

44-year-old Tsang graduated from the School of Journalism at the Hong Kong Baptist University.

Tsang's co-host in Crazy and Happy, Chan Po-ling, was reportedly sacked, despite the popularity of the show.

The event shows another change of personnel since a new management team hss been formed at RTHK.

Source: Stand News #Jun18

#WhiteTerror #Intimidation

Former Political Satire Host Leaves Hong Kong for #Taiwan: "Sorry for Not Being Able to Say Goodbye"

On July 11, 2021, Tsang Chi-ho, a radio and TV host who was suddenly sacked by the public broadcaster #RTHK in June 2021, announced on Facebook that he has left Hong Kong for Taiwan. Tsang apologized for not being able to tell and say goodbye to his friends in advance.

Tsang wrote, "I woke up and realised that a 'Hong Kong' that is not Hong Kong anymore." He said he missed his friends a lot.

"In each of our heart, there lie many people, happenings and thousands of words. The path thereafter we will continue to walk," Tsang wrote in his post.

Many netizens left words of encouragement to Tsang: "Safety comes first," "As long as you and your family are well," and "Thank you for what you have done for Hong Kong" among others.

Taiwanese netizens also told Tsang "Welcome to Taiwan".

[Editor's note: #TsangChiHo is one of the hosts of the famous political satire #Headliner produced by RTHK. Under political pressure, the long-running popular program has been suspended. The public broadcaster RTHK termimated Tsang's contract with immediate effect in June 2021, despite the popularity of another radio show he was hosting.]

Source: Stand News #Jul11
https://bit.ly/2UCGq30

#PoliticalSuppression #Exile #Migration

#Regime
HK public broadcaster removes social media pages of 12 popular programmes

Since one year ago, the Hong Kong public broadcaster #RTHK, with the change of management, has been removing programmes that the authorities deem "sensitive" from its website and restricting quality programmes from enrolling competitions.

On November 27, 2021,the broadcaster sneaked in a notice at the bottom of its website, saying that the station will halt the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages of 12 shows from December 3, 2021 onwards.

The notice, however, didn't give any reasons to the halt.

The programmes affected are:

- This Morning;
- The Pulse;
- LegCo Review;
- Hong Kong Connection;
- This Week;
- Think About Thinking;
- Headliner;
- Hong Kong Stories – A Time to Mend;
- Rich Mate Poor Mate Series 2 and 3;
- Sign Language; and
- Knowledge Zone.

Most of these shows are no longer in production, including the axed popular political satire show Headliner.

While some of these social media pages have been dormant for periods ranging from around two months to more than two years, others have been popular among netizens and followed by many.

The Facebook page of Hong Kong Connection had 360,000 likes and followed by 440,000.

The Facebook page of Headliner had 420,000 likes and followed by 480,000.

The Facebook page of This Week had 340,000 likes and followed by 430,000;

The Facebook page of Think about Thinking had 87,000 likes and followed by 100,000.

Image: Stand News
Source: Citizen News; #Dec2
https://bit.ly/2ZMdTLg

#MemoryWar #Silence #Censorship #Headliner #HongKongConnection