The government yesterday announced the appointment of Franklin Wong Wah-kay as the new director of broadcasting.

Wong, 65, former employee of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), said his first task is to improve the government-funded broadcaster's corporate governance and to transform it into a public institution.

Wong, who has a strong media background, will take up the RTHK top job for two and half years.

Speaking to the media yesterday afternoon, Wong said that he was aware of the enormous responsibility. Apart from his overseas experience in Singapore and Malaysia, he said he had a sense of commitment and was willing to learn new things.

He said he would work closely with RTHK colleagues to improve corporate governance and ensure that public money is properly spent.

Talking about the spate of irregularities and abuse of public money by RTHK staff, he said those things had happened a few years ago and RTHK had made improvements following audit recommendations.

As the public broadcasting policy is being reviewed, he said RTHK needed to build up strong credibility by producing quality, impartial and in-depth programs.

"As Director of Broadcasting, I will lead RTHK colleagues to take part in the consultation and discussion with a view to arriving at a pattern suitable for development in the future."

He further revealed that he was approached by a headhunter to apply for the job at the first round to succeed former director Chu Pui-hing, who retired early in July 2007.

The government said at that time none of the 20 short-listed candidates were suitable and opened the recruitment for the second round to non-degree holders.

Wong, who holds an Australian passport, said there is no rule that prevents him from holding a foreign passport as a civil servant.

The RTHK management and staff union, academic and veteran journalists welcomed his appointment.

Janet Mak, chairperson of the RTHK program staff union, welcomed Wong's appointment and looked forward to working with him. She believed he will maintain the RTHK tradition of editorial independence, as well as impartial and unbiased news reporting.

Clement So, director of the Chinese University of Hong Kong's School of Journalism and Communication, said Wong is familiar with the RTHK organization structure by virtue of his previous services and knows the media industry very well. "He is quite suitable person for the post," So said.

Leung Lap-yan, the publisher of Sing Pao newspaper who has known Wong for more than 30 years, described him as a gentleman with strong principles who does things seriously.

(HK Edition 08/08/2008 page6)