'Heads must roll over RTHK's Headliner'

'Heads must roll over RTHK's Headliner'

About a dozen people staged a protest outside RTHK's Broadcasting House on Friday morning, calling for heads to roll over a satirical programme that had caused outrage among the police force and its supporters.



The television programme, Headliner, has been under fire for joking in its February 14 episode that officers were hoarding protective gear during the coronavirus outbreak.



The protesters demanded an apology from the Director of Broadcasting, Leung Ka-wing, and chanted for him to step down.



They also called on the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau to resign, accusing him of failing to supervise RTHK. Yau's bureau oversees the public service broadcaster.



The group also mocked Apple Daily publisher Jimmy Lai, who had been arrested earlier on Friday.



The police force itself has complained about the Headliner episode, and pro-Beijing groups have staged several protests about the programme.



The Office of the Communications Authority had reportedly received more than 200 complaints about the Headliner programme, and said it was following up the matter.



Yau earlier urged RTHK to strictly abide by its charter.



An RTHK spokeswoman said on Wednesday that the station produces different kinds of programmes to fulfil its mission in the Radio Television Charter, which includes providing accurate and fair news reporting. But she also noted that Headliner is not a news programme.