Thursday, August 31, 2006

Hong Kong Police Raid Independent Radio

Despite without a license, a group of activists have run the Citizen's Radio for one year. Last night police and government officers suddenly raided this independent radio stations. They arrested a man and confiscated most equipment.

There are only three legal radio stations in Hong Kong, a city populated by 7 million people. There are even more radio stations in Beijing than in Hong Kong, no mention of other cities. The Hong Kong government refuses to issue more licenses to any applicant. The activists of Citizen's Radio submitted their application last year and have not received any response. Hong Kong government blocks its ears to any demand for more radio channels. Hong Kong government always boasts of its free economy but it never applies to the area of media.

A few years, some popular hosts of radio phone-in program, who criticized government severely, were suddenly fired and Hong Kong people were worried about the freedom of speech and media autonomy. Since then, some people launched underground radio and other independent media (e.g. Hong Kong People's Radio).

Hong Kong's radio broadcasting is managed by the Broadcasting Authority whose memebers are appointed by the Chief Executive Donald Tsang who is also not elected by Hong Kong people. The policy-making body is the Commerce, Industry & Technology Bureau and the Secretrary is appointed by the Beijing government. There is no democratic institution and process for Hong Kong people to discuss and change the broadcasting policies.

Hong Kong government said that illegal radio broadcasters are harmful to other legitimate users. Yet no evidence has never been provided by officials. But the police raid is already doing serious harm to the civil society. The maximum penalty for a conviction of violating the telecommunication law is a HK$100,000 fine and five years' imprisonment. Further, we lost the Citizen's Radio, the only underground radio station in Hong Kong.

Radio broadcasting is one of the most popular media in Hong Kong. Now, except the government radio station, all commercial radio licenses are owned by the commercial sector. One of them belongs to the tycoon Li Ka Shing who has good connections with Hong Kong and Beijing governments.

Photo: Leo Prieto

3 Comments:

At 12:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

ninest123 16.03
prada outlet, nike outlet, longchamp outlet, burberry outlet, gucci handbags, ralph lauren polo, cheap jordans, louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton outlet online, oakley sunglasses, uggs on sale, louis vuitton outlet, tiffany jewelry, replica watches, ralph lauren outlet, michael kors outlet, longchamp outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, michael kors handbags, replica watches, michael kors outlet online, oakley sunglasses, uggs on sale, louboutin shoes, christian louboutin, ray ban sunglasses, uggs outlet, nike free, christian louboutin, uggs outlet, tiffany jewelry, nike air max, oakley sunglasses, longchamp bags, uggs on sale, michael kors outlet online, michael kors outlet online, nike air max, louis vuitton handbags, oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton, ray ban sunglasses, louboutin uk, michael kors, tory burch outlet, burberry factory outlet, prada handbags

 
At 12:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

lunette oakley pas cher, nike roshe run pas cher, lululemon outlet, hollister uk, jordan pas cher, coach purses, lunette ray ban pas cher, nike tn pas cher, hogan sito ufficiale, abercrombie and fitch, new balance, longchamp soldes, nike blazer pas cher, true religion outlet, true religion outlet, michael kors, replica handbags, michael kors, sac guess pas cher, ray ban uk, nike air max, mulberry uk, vans pas cher, abercrombie and fitch UK, louboutin pas cher, nike air max pas cher, coach outlet store online, nike free pas cher, true religion jeans, polo lacoste pas cher, true religion outlet, nike air max uk, ralph lauren pas cher, kate spade outlet, longchamp pas cher, nike air force, polo ralph lauren uk, hermes pas cher, michael kors uk, north face uk, timberland pas cher, vanessa bruno pas cher, nike free, michael kors outlet online, coach outlet, nike air max uk, burberry pas cher, north face pas cher, converse

 
At 1:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

swarovski jewelry, coach outlet, links of london uk, canada goose, canada goose pas cher, moncler, barbour, ugg pas cher, louis vuitton, supra shoes, converse, wedding dresses uk, pandora charms, canada goose uk, karen millen uk, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, canada goose outlet, louis vuitton uk, pandora uk, replica watches, moncler, moncler pas cher, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, moncler, swarovski uk, canada goose outlet, canada goose jackets, moncler, converse shoes outlet, bottes ugg pas cher, barbour jackets uk, canada goose jackets, hollister, marc jacobs, thomas sabo uk, ugg uk, toms shoes, moncler uk, sac louis vuitton, sac louis vuitton, gucci, pandora jewelry, moncler jackets, juicy couture outlet, pandora jewelry, montre pas cher, juicy couture outlet, canada goose, louis vuitton, moncler outlet, ray ban, lancel
ninest123 16.03

 

Post a Comment

<< Home