No need to merge Hong Kong’s RTHK with government press department: minister

Hong Kong’s commerce minister has rejected a lawmaker’s suggestion to merge public broadcaster RTHK with the government’s press department, saying there were no overlaps in job responsibilities.

RTHK also came under fire on Wednesday over its staffing levels, with lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee calling for in-depth reforms at the broadcaster and better use of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah was responding to lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu’s question on the possibility of merging RTHK with the Information Services Department to cut down on government spending.

The government is set to record a HK$87.2 billion (US$11.2 billion) deficit for the past financial year, and the finance chief has vowed to cut government spending by 7 per cent over the coming three years.

“The two organs have different requirements in the nature of work, skills and experience. Merging them may not be the most effective way to streamline and save resources,” Yau told lawmakers at the Legislative Council meeting.

“On the contrary, the merger may confuse the public about RTHK’s role as a public broadcaster and the Information Services Department’s role in promoting government public relations, which could have a counterproductive effect on the government’s overall public relations efforts.”