The Communications Authority upheld complaints that a Headliner episode was “disparaging and insulting” to police. A warning was issued to RTHK as the authorities ruled the episode had breached the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programmes.

The staff union and HKJA jointly filed a judicial review this afternoon, requesting the overturn of the Communications Authority’s decision.

HKJA will accept unconditional donations and the staff union will raise funds among its staff to jointly bear the cost involved in the legal action.

Not only has the Communications Authority ruling affected RTHK’s programme production, but it also greatly reduces the room for Hong Kong media to produce satire programmes. HKJA has been paying attention to the impact of the ruling and believed that it was a restriction on freedom of speech. When it was learned that the staff union intended to follow up through judicial review, HKJA was willing to participate.

Headliner has been through many years and political storms with Hongkongers, using sarcasm and mockery. We wish to safeguard the room for political satire through the judicial review and overturn the case for freedom of speech.

Hong Kong Journalists Association

RTHK Programme Staff Union

19 August 2020