The Government has approved the applications by Television Broadcasts Limited for Li Ruigang, Charles Chan, Thomas Hui and Mark Lee to exercise control of TVB as "disqualified persons" under the Broadcasting Ordinance, the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau announced today.
Under the Ordinance, a disqualified person cannot exercise control of a domestic free TV licensee unless approved otherwise by the Chief Executive in Council.
It also provides that being a director of an advertising agency, or a director of a corporation influenced by a "disqualified person", is a "disqualified person" to exercise control of a free TV licensee.
TVB has submitted that Li Ruigang is a "disqualified person" by virtue of his being director of two advertising agencies while Charles Chan, Thomas Hui and Mark Lee are "disqualified" from their proposed appointments as directors of corporations influenced by Li Ruigang.
The corporations involved include some member companies of the CMC Group which operate businesses in the media, entertainment, sports, internet and lifestyle sectors, as well as Shaw Brothers Holdings Limited and Flagship Entertainment Group Limited which focus on the movie business.
The Bureau said it is unlikely to bring negative impact to the competitiveness of the television programme service market, editorial uniformity or media concentration, if the four people are allowed to hold dual directorships in TVB and the corporations concerned.
It added that the collaboration of TVB and those companies in the licensing of broadcast rights of movies, sports events, dramas and other programmes may enable TVB to improve the variety and quality of its programmes, bringing more programme choices to viewers.
