A flap over alleged self-censorship is brewing in Hong Kong, where a pro-Taiwan group attacked two Hong Kong television stations yesterday for referring to Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) as the "leader" rather than "president" of the nation.
The Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council sent letters of complaint to broadcasters ATV and TVB -- complaining their coverage of Chen's Latin America trip showed an alarming change in editorial policy that appeared intended to ingratiate Beijing.
"They shouldn't have a political stance," said Li Kwok-keung, chairman of the trade group that supports Taiwan. "This address is a sign of unfriendliness towards Taiwan. It will make Taiwan think Hong Kong media is hostile towards them and that will affect our relation with Taiwan."
"It's necessary to do that to please Beijing," Li said.
Both broadcasters disputed the charge -- although they say they support Beijing's view that there is just "One China" and that Taiwan is part of it.
"There is no pressure and we don't practice self-censorship. We called Chen the leader because we think it's an appropriate title during his foreign trip. `One China' has been always been our stance, there is no change in that," said Tong Tak-chuen, ATV's deputy head of news.
TVB head of news Loh Chan said the pro-Taiwan group misunderstood the issues.
"We called him Taiwan leader president Chen Shui-bian. Some people haven't listened carefully enough," Loh said.
"We haven't changed our position, it's not a new policy. The whole thing has been distorted."
Loh said the "one China" principle, recognized by the UN, has always been observed and denied that any censorship of its Taiwan coverage.
Chen's Latin America visit began last month and is to end this month with stops in the US, a move that is likely to irritate China. China opposes US transit stops by Taiwanese leaders, believing the US is encouraging pro-independence sentiment by extending courtesies to leaders of what it regards as a renegade province.
Beijing has in the past raised objections to prominent public discussion of Taiwanese independence in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's government-owned Radio Hong Kong was attacked by pro-Beijing figures here two years ago for allowing Taiwan's top envoy at the time, Cheng An-kuo (
Although Hong Kong retained constitutional guarantees of media freedom after Britain returned its former colony to China in 1997, there have been widespread concerns that some media outlets might alter their reporting by imposing "self-censorship" to avoid trouble.
Hong Kong's competitive media outlets have consistently denied any self-censorship is taking place.
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