HK media toes China line on Taiwan style

KONG: Hong Kong’s public broadcaster has banned staff from calling Taiwan’s leader “president” or referring to its “government” in new guidelines that mimic mainland China’s rhetoric.

The decision comes as Beijing remoulds Hong Kong in its own authoritarian image and as local authorities turn the city’s RTHK news channel – run by a government agency – into something more closely resembling China’s highly censored state media.

In a memo sent to all staff on Tuesday, RTHK’s management issued a series of new style rulings on how to refer to Taiwan.

The self-ruled democracy of 23 million people – known officially as the Republic of China – is claimed by Beijing’s leaders who have vowed to one day seize Taiwan, by force if needs.

The memo said staff were now banned from using “inappropriate” terms such as “Taiwan’s president” or the “Taiwan government” in all radio, television and online output.

“Inappropriate terminology such as ‘country’, ‘Republic of China’, ‘ROC’... must not be used when referring to Taiwan. Under no circumstances should Taiwan be referred to as a sovereign state or perceived as one,” it added.

The new ruling was made days after a prominent proBeijing politician in Hong Kong accused the broadcaster of breaking the law in how it describes Taiwan.

RTHK’s media office declined to comment on why the new rules were rolled out. Chinese state media avoids any reference to Taiwan that might lend its government any sense of legitimacy.