Speaking at a spring reception, Zhang Xiaoming, director of the Liaison Office, pointed out that people from virtually all walks of society are far more satisfied with Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and his administration's performance than media reports suggest. Also, he took the opportunity to reaffirm his unwavering support to the CE's proactive and pragmatic approach, saying the new SAR government is fulfilling its promise to "seek change while maintaining stability".

Given Zhang's 26 years of service at the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, a pivotal central government department in shaping State policies on Hong Kong, we can be assured that the central government precisely grasps the social pulse in Hong Kong not simply by reading daily news reports here, and knows what's best for the city.

Zhang's impression towards Leung and his governing team is largely based on his meetings with local people since assuming office approximately two months ago. His tone might not sound comfortable to the city's media organs, but he was just telling the truth.

According to the classical theory of journalism, media as a public tool is supposed to be objective, fair and impartial. Unfortunately, news reporting nowadays becomes more and more driven by profit and political agenda rather than the truth. News stories that would logically be important are not always reported or substituted with more sensational and entertaining news. The paparazzi hound celebrities without mercy. This worrying tendency can only results in a lack of media ethics and a deluge of information dominated by bikini-clad photos, gang violence, and all kinds of gossip.

To make things worse, a bunch of media outlets with political ends to meet are brazenly "making" rather than honestly reporting political news. This can explain why the rumor mill is running overdrive. Media ethics have increasingly become an important issue concerning the whole society. It is time for media outlets in Hong Kong to shoulder social responsibilities - to expose wrongs but to allow that no one is perfect; to entertain but to accord people a general expectation of privacy and dignity.

More importantly, the media should not indulge market-driven gossip but focus more on serious public issues concerning the wellbeing of the society. We all know that communication is vital in forging public consensus and narrowing the social divide, media has a key role to play in the process.

(HK Edition 02/20/2013 page1)