HK Observer | TV, HKU and political reform

Robert Carroll

Several key elements of Hong Kong’s makeup are under threat according to recent news developments. Most importantly unless we get a deal for political reform governance is at stake. Secondly, unless the Chief Executive takes a rational rather that knee-jerk response to ATV’s dilemma by allowing a chance to allow the one man who can turn the station around, Hong Kong free-to-air television may well be doomed. Thirdly, unless the University of Hong Kong is left alone to continue to do a great job as one of the very top research and teaching universities not only in Asia but the world according to rankings, we may put that reputation at risk.
Before I go further I must declare my interest in the latter two issues. I worked for both free-to-air broadcasters in Hong Kong – ATV and TVB – cumulatively for six years.  Secondly, my wife has been continuously employed teaching at the University of Hong Kong full time for 15 years.
Does this mean I am lobbying for ATV or TVB?  I have a certain emotional attachment to both in the form of loyalty of a former employee, but there are no advantages I could receive from them that I can think of.
Well ATV has once again the chance of salvation by an oft-mentioned “White Knight”, and once again that white knight is Ricky Wong of HKTV; the spurned suitor of new TV licenses, who ironically had been courted by the then-government to do so. Reportedly the only opponent to the issuing of Wong’s had been Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who opposed his entire Executive Council when the license bid was up for approval. A long-delayed Executive Council meeting to yah or nay renewal of ATV’s broadcast license was rushed into action the same day as Ricky Wong made news with a supposed deal to take over ATV.  Coincidence?
This time Wong has very sensibly and reasonably suggested that he take over funding the ailing station in exchange for providing programming and getting a fifty-fifty split in advertising revenue. If there was any belief that Wong was aiming at getting control over the station to further subversive political ends as seems to be a suspicion in establishment corners, surely multiple rejections for his takeover of ATV will have wised Wong up to the fact that he must allay fears about his intentions. He is just a businessman after all, not a politician or political crusader. His internet TV programmes are popular with the young unlike yesterdays’ leftover offerings from TVB and ATV who have been stuck in the mud with their programming for decades.
So once again the University of Hong Kong is being challenged by the establishment; this time in the shape of ExCo member, Arthur Lee. Lee declared that HKU’s rankings went down because some professors attended Occupy Central. What a load of hogwash. The University’s Academic staff Association is threatening to sue Lee. Go for it guys. This is the new man in line for a top post at HKU, chairman of the University Council. What happened to that great Chinese virtue, harmony?
The revised plan for political reform legislation will soon be put to the Legislative Council for approval.  If there is some movement and relaxation of election conditions, with a proviso that the reform process will continue and not stall, then what’s being called universal suffrage, may take place we should go for it. The alternative, to spend another ten years restarting the reform process, may just bring us back to square one but in ten years’ time.