【禁聞】香港明報突換總編 中共插哪一腳?

2014年01月08日港澳
【新唐人2014年01月09日訊】有著55年歷史的香港主流媒體《明報》,突然宣佈撤換任職僅兩年的總編劉進圖,將由不了解香港的馬來西亞華人出任。此事旋即成為輿論的焦點,香港各大媒體和網路媒體都紛紛議論此事。請看報導。

香港《明報》6號晚在網站上發表聲明說,為配合《明報》業務發展,總編輯劉進圖將出任新的職位,但報館的編輯方針不會改變。

但《明報》採編人員對此發起連署,要求管理層儘快召開員工大會,解釋撤換總編輯的原因,同時期盼社會公眾一起監督《明報》。

員工代表7號中午在報社前會見傳媒時表示,目前參與連署的員工已有140多人。

香港多家報紙也都把「這一突然的人事調動」作為頭版頭條。《蘋果日報》指出,劉進圖被撤換的導火線是《明報》從去年10月16號起,一連九天以頭版報導,有關香港電視未獲港府頒發免費電視牌照一事。

「香港記者協會」也發表聲明,希望管理層能對事件公開解釋。

據了解,劉進圖擔任總編一職僅僅兩年,他的接任者是一位現居住在新加坡的馬來西亞人士、《南洋商報》前總編鐘天祥。

實際上,鐘天祥曾經率領馬來西亞中文媒體代表團,拜訪中共《新華社》。

「香港城市大學」政治學教授鄭宇碩表示,香港媒體的生態這幾年一直下降,媒體自我的審查也越來越嚴重,市民也認為媒體的公信力在下降。

香港城市大學政治學教授鄭宇碩:「其中有一個不太健康的情況就是,香港的媒體都是在大財團手上,大財團一般都在中國內地有龐大的生意,所以他們一般不願意開罪中共當局。」

在2014年「香港中文大學」傳媒公信力的調查中,《明報》排名下跌。而《明報》在報頭宣稱的「報網一體 公信第一」的字樣,也已刪去。

資料顯示,馬來西亞商人張曉卿自1995年收購《明報》後,出任董事會主席,但近年來他在中國的生意不斷擴張,投資金額以十億元計。

美國《大紀元》新聞網指出,在此之前,張曉卿投靠中共前黨主席江澤民派系,但最近又轉向了支持新領導人習近平。

前《明報》自由撰稿人樹根向《大紀元》表示,《明報》的報導非常混亂,從打擊參選香港特首的唐英年,到罵梁振英特首,從親江澤民,又到親習近平,政治立場真的很飄忽。

香港資深媒體人陶傑:「把梁振英捧上臺以後,它又揭發了梁振英家裡有那種非法的修建工程,又把梁振英的名望給打下去。從中共或者梁振英眼中,覺得你這樣報紙翻手為雲,覆手為雨。」

「香港記協」主席岑倚蘭也向《大紀元》表示,據《明報》員工透露,原《明報》北美總裁呂家明長期支持中共領事館,去年把他調回香港,就是讓他看管香港《明報》的內容。

《蘋果日報》也引述消息表示,現任香港《明報》編務董事的呂家明,是張曉卿派來整頓編採方向,為今年政改、佔領中環、六四25週年等「先行清場」。

鄭宇碩:「中共在香港的統戰機器資源是非常龐大的,在很多重要的機關,都有所滲透。比方說,在民主運動裡頭有很多組織都有這樣的看法,就是說他們都有人滲透。有關《明報》我們也聽過這樣的傳言。 」

《明報》貌似中立,但在有些問題上完全引用中共的報導。如,2008年中共開槍鎮壓西藏事件中、或在中共鎮壓迫害法輪功事件中,都是跟隨中共《新華網》、或《人民日報》的腔調。最近《明報》也屏蔽了歐洲議會通過制止中共活摘器官議案的消息。

有消息人士揭露,早些年《明報》曾三次派出工作人員,到「中央黨校」參加由中宣部舉辦的培訓班,包括前總編輯張健波。

被譽為「香港第一才子」的資深媒體人陶傑表示,《明報》對香港的中、小學生意識形態具有影響,所以《明報》的報導內容很重要。

採訪/常春 編輯/宋風 後製/李勇


Communist Regime vs. New Editor of Newspaper Ming Pao

Ming Pao, a 55 year old mainstream media in Hong Kong,
recently replaced chief editor Kevin Lau Chun-to with a
Malaysian journalist with no local news experience.

Kevin Lau has only been at the post for two years.

This sudden change has brought much speculation
within the media. The following is our report.

Ming Pao announced on Jan. 6, Kevin Lau had to move
to a new position due to business needs,
and that the newspaper's editorial policy would not change.

However, Ming Pao's editorial staff, signed a petition demanding
a staff meeting and explanation of the replacement,
requesting public supervision of Ming Pao.

Ming Pao staff representatives, gathered on Jan. 7 outside
its head office, indicating more than 140 staff
had signed their petition.

This news has also become the headline in many
Hong Kong newspapers.
Apple Daily noted, Lau's removal was linked to the days of
reporting, what was then known as the free-to-air television
license saga of last year.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association also questioned
the rationale behind Lau's removal.

Kevin Lau, as chief editor for just two years, will be replaced
by a Malaysian in Singapore,

former chief editor of newspaper Nanyang Siang Pau,
Chong Tien Siong.

In fact, Chong Tien Siong had led the Malaysian Chinese media
delegation, to visit the Communist mouth piece
Xinhua News Agency in 2007.

Professor of Political Science, City University of Hong Kong,
Joseph Yu-shek Cheng indicates, the decline in Hong Kong
media ecology, has been quite serious with ever
increasing self- censor and failing credibility.

Joseph Yu-shek Cheng, Professor of Political Science,
City University of Hong Kong: "There is a very unhealthy
situation in the Hong Kong media at present.

"They are owned by major financial groups which typically
own businesses in China.
They are generally reluctant to offend the Communist regime."

In the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Centre for
Communication and Public Opinion Survey,
Ming Pao has dropped its rating and masthead slogan as
being, "the most credible Chinese newspaper."

Ming Pao's chairman, Hiew-king Tiong, is a Malaysian
businessman.
Since he became the executive chairman of Ming Pao in 1995,
his business in China has also expanded with investment
revenue worth billions of dollars.

The Epoch Times had reported earlier, that Hiew-king Tiong,
had close ties to former Chinese Communist Party
(CCP) leader Jiang Zemin's faction,
but has recently crossed over to support the new
leader Xi Jinping.

Freelance writer Shu Gen told The Epoch Times, "Ming Pao's
political stance is really erratic, according to its criticism of
Hong Kong's Chief Executive Henry Tang,
to the blow of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying,
and its pro-Jiang to pro-Xi Jinping."

Chip Tsao, senior journalist: "After they thrust Leung Chun-ying
into power, they crushed him by focusing on the illegal
construction at Leung Chun-ying's property.

"To the CCP or Leung Chun-ying, the newspaper
plays fast and loose."

Hong Kong's Journalist Association Chairman, Sham Yee-lan
told the Epoch Times,
"Former chief executive of Ming Pao's North American operation,
Lui Ka-ming, had long supported the Chinese consulate.
Lui was relocated back to Hong Kong last year to monitor
the content of Hong Kong Ming Pao."

Apple Daily also quoted sources saying, Hiew-king Tiong has
sent Lui Ka-ming to Hong Kong.
Hiew-King wants Lui to interfere with editorial decisions of
Hong Kong's Ming Pao, in preparation for the
political reform, as well as the Occupy Central protest,
and the 25 year anniversary of Tiananmen Massacre.

Joseph Cheng: "The CCP has huge United Front resources in
Hong Kong and has infiltrated every major institution.
Many activist organizations were said to have been infiltrated.

"We have heard similar rumors about the infiltration of
the CCP in Ming Pao."

The seemingly neutral Ming Pao, has reported issues fully in
reference to CCP's report.
For example, the shooting incident during the 2008 crackdown
in Tibet, or in the event of CCP's persecution of Falun Gong,
Ming Pao has followed the tone of Xinhua or People's Daily.

Recently, Ming Pao also blocked news about the
European Parliament's call to end live organ harvesting by CCP.

A source revealed that Ming Pao had participated three times
to the training courses at Central Party School,
which were organized by the Central Propaganda Department.

The editorial director and ex-chief editor Cheung Kin-bor
was one of the trainees.

Hong Kong's senior journalist, Chip Tsao, explains Ming Pao
has had a big impact on the ideology of
primary and secondary students in Hong Kong.

Ming Pao's report has real significance in Hong Kong.

Interview/ChangChun Edit/SongFeng Post-Production/LiYong