The Pulse (TV programme)

The Pulse is a Hong Kong weekly current affairs television program produced by RTHK that airs on RTHK TV 31, which provides in-depth reports and interviews on current issues in Hong Kong, mainland China and the rest of the world. Created by its first executive producer Gary Pollard, the series broadcast its first episode on January 7, 2005. The programme is hosted by Stephen Vines, a Hong Kong-based writer and journalist.[1]

The Pulse
Title card of The Pulse in 2020.
Genre
Presented by
  • Stephen Vines
Country of originHong Kong
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerDiana Wan
Running time21–22 minutes
Production companyRTHK
Release
Original networkRTHK TV 31
Picture formatHDTV (1080i)
Audio formatMonaural
Original release7 January 2005 (2005-01-07)
External links
Website

The show originally aired on both TVB Pearl and RTHK TV 31, the show ceased its broadcast on TVB in 2017.[2]

Incidents

Bruce Aylward interview
See also: Bruce Aylward § COVID-19 Taiwan interview controversy

On March 28, 2020 during worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Bruce Aylward, senior advisor to the Director General of World Health Organization (WHO), was interviewed in The Pulse by Yvonne Tong.[3] In the video interview, Tong asked Aylward about Taiwan's status in the WHO and inquired as to whether it might be readmitted to the WHO after being denied entry by Beijing. However, Aylward claimed not to hear the question, and then terminated the video call.[3][4]

Tong then called once again to pose questions about Taiwan and its handling of COVID-19. Aylward responded by following China's official position that Taiwan is indeed part of China, a politically charged claim. “Well, we’ve already talked about China. And when you look across all the different areas of China, they’ve actually all done quite a good job,” he responded.[5] He then quickly ended the interview.[4]

The interview went viral across social media and raised questions about the WHO's deference to China in shutting out Taiwanese representation. As RTHK is a public broadcaster funded by the Hong Kong government, the secretary for commerce and economic development Edward Yau reprimanded the station for breaching its charter which includes "promoting understanding of the one country, two systems model". Yau and pro-government figures like Junius Ho opined that the interview violated the One China principle.[6] RTHK announced it stood by the original interview as aired, dismissed claims that it violated the charter as it did not mention Taiwan as a country, and pushed back against government interference in the station's editorial autonomy.[7] An RTHK advisory panel member labeled the accusations as “nonsense”, adding that she does not "understand why when a reporter is asking something relating to health, she or he has to remember there is ‘One Country, Two Systems’ … in line with the government or China”.[6] A WHO representative sent a e-mail statement to Hong Kong Free Press accusing the show's crew of misrepresentation and delibrate manipulation of footage; but RTHK's Head of Corporate Communications and Standards Amen Ng however rebukes this stating that the broadcaster “strenuously reject any allegations of ‘distortion and misrepresentation.'”[8]

References
  1. "Stephen Vines, Author at Hong Kong Free Press HKFP". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  2. "TVB axes broadcasts of RTHK's English news programme The Pulse and arts show The Works". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 2017-10-31. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  3. "The Pulse: Coronavirus situations in New York city, London and Lombardy, Italy & interview with WHO Bruce Aylward". RTHK. Interview by Yvonne Tong. RTHK VNEWS. 16:35 to 20:59. Archived (MPEG4) from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. Grundy, Tom. "Video: Top WHO doctor Bruce Aylward pretends not to hear journalist's Taiwan questions, ends video call". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  5. https://www.rthk.hk/tv/dtt31/programme/thepulse/episode/619602
  6. Davidson, Helen (4 April 2020). "Hong Kong official reprimands TV station over WHO interview that mentioned Taiwan". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  7. "RTHK rejects govt complaint over Taiwan interview". RTHK News. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  8. Wong, Rachel (16 April 2020). "Hong Kong broadcaster rejects WHO claim that interview with top doctor was 'distorted'". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 4 May 2020.


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