2009 Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority forum
Encyclopedia
2009 Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority forum was a public forum held on the night of July 14, 2009 by the Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority
. The forum gave the citizens a chance to provide feedback and comments about the two free Hong Kong
TV station TVB and ATV
. A large number of questions and complaints were directed at the station representatives. Starting from issues of self-censorship
, the forum soon escalated to chaos including heated comments toward TVB general manager Stephen Chan Chi Wan
.
were being reported locally. Thus the phrase (無綫新聞，事事旦旦) became a new protest spinoff phrase. On June 5, a day after the Tiananmen square 20th anniversary
, all the TV stations were analyzed for their handling of the Tiananmen broadcast. TVB, which has the largest viewership and largely regarded as a monopoly
, broadcast only 8 minutes of the event well after a number of lesser important programs. Some of the programs that came before Tiananmen news included students abusing drugs in Tin Shui Wai
, and lesser important news regarding Legco
and the Hong Kong subway
. This led TVB to be labeled as CCTVB by the critics, which is a knockoff of the People's Republic of China
's censored state-run station CCTV
.
Some top questions directed toward Stephen Chan:
Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority
The Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority is an organization responsible for licensing and regulating the broadcasting industry in Hong Kong. It was formed in 1987...
. The forum gave the citizens a chance to provide feedback and comments about the two free Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
TV station TVB and ATV
Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
. A large number of questions and complaints were directed at the station representatives. Starting from issues of self-censorship
Self-censorship
Self-censorship is the act of censoring or classifying one's own work , out of fear of, or deference to, the sensibilities of others, without overt pressure from any specific party or institution of authority...
, the forum soon escalated to chaos including heated comments toward TVB general manager Stephen Chan Chi Wan
Stephen Chan Chi Wan
Stephen Chan Chi Wan, born 1958, is the general manager of Television Broadcasts Limited .-Early years:Chan studied linguistics and theatre at the University of Hong Kong and graduated in 1981.-Pre-TVB career:...
.
Background
Both ATV and TVB's current broadcast license went into effect on 1 December 2003. Traditionally TVB news used the slogan (無綫新聞，事事關心), which means "TVB News, care about events". In June 2009 people became dissatisfied with how the 1989 Tiananmen Square protestsTiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
were being reported locally. Thus the phrase (無綫新聞，事事旦旦) became a new protest spinoff phrase. On June 5, a day after the Tiananmen square 20th anniversary
20th anniversary Tiananmen square incident march
The 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 was a series of rallies that took place in late May to early June 2009 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 4 June Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, during which the Chinese government sent troops to suppress pro-democracy movement...
, all the TV stations were analyzed for their handling of the Tiananmen broadcast. TVB, which has the largest viewership and largely regarded as a monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
, broadcast only 8 minutes of the event well after a number of lesser important programs. Some of the programs that came before Tiananmen news included students abusing drugs in Tin Shui Wai
Tin Shui Wai
Tin Shui Wai is an area of Hong Kong, located in Yuen Long District, in the northwestern part of the New Territories. Originally a gei wai fish pond area, the ponds were reclaimed for the development of Tin Shui Wai New Town in the late 1980s...
, and lesser important news regarding Legco
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
and the Hong Kong subway
MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation Limited is a company listed on the Hong Kong Exchange and included in the Hang Seng Index. MTR owns and runs the Hong Kong MTR metro system, and is also a major property developer and landlord in Hong Kong...
. This led TVB to be labeled as CCTVB by the critics, which is a knockoff of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
's censored state-run station CCTV
China Central Television
China Central Television or Chinese Central Television, commonly abbreviated as CCTV, is the major state television broadcaster in mainland China. CCTV has a network of 19 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers...
.
Forum
On July 14, 2009 the forum had about 350 participants. The forum originally began with the complaints of self-censorship being practiced by both stations along with other broadcast freedom issues. The questions later spiraled to issues of monopoly, controlling of celebrities etc. Each citizen had 3 minutes to ask questions.Some top questions directed toward Stephen Chan:
- Does TVB ask actors and actresses to participate on some shows in exchange for awards.
- Why was TwinsTwins (group)Twins is a Hong Kong-based female Cantopop duo which was created in the summer of 2001 by Emperor Entertainment Group . Twins is made up of two girls, Charlene Choi Cheuk-Yin and Gillian Chung Yan-Tung. They were a popular group in Hong Kong and a top band in China. Their fanbase included Japan,...
Gillian ChungGillian ChungGillian Chung is a Hong Kong based singer and actress. She is a member of Cantopop group Twins, along with Charlene Choi.-Early life:...
's special TVB pay-vision response interview broadcast first, as opposed to the Tiananmen incident which was broadcast third. - Is the phrase "Puk gai" (僕街) considered a real profanityProfanityProfanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
? Why is it ok when TV series actors use it, but beeped out when politicians use it on news programs. - Other earlier complaints include the downplaying of Jackie ChanJackie ChanJackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
's Chinese people need to be controlled comment.