A good week for ...
Stephen Chan
The executive was all smiles after he and two co-accused were acquitted of cheating TVB after a year-long trial. Cheers erupted after all charges - including a claim he received HK$112,000 behind his employer's back to appear in a talk show - were found to be unsubstantiated. Now, he's expected to whip up a storm as he reclaims his turf, and those who pointed the finger in court - such as his superior Mark Lee Po-on and subordinate Virginia Lok Yee-ling - might be feeling a little less celebratory.
Yoshihiko Noda
He wasn't the most popular of the Japanese candidates vying for the ruling party's top post last week - either with the public or in the party. But critics of powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa rallied around Noda to vault him to victory over four others. Noda took over as prime minister on Tuesday and faces an uphill battle overcoming the political paralysis in Japan. But the choice of the relatively youthful Noda, at 54, represents a much-needed changing of the guard.
Carson Yeung Ka-sing
The tycoon was last week permitted to fly to Britain for four days to manage his soccer club, Birmingham City. Yeung, 51, is facing five counts of money laundering involving HK$720 million and had been barred from leaving Hong Kong. His debt-ridden club was also thrown a lifeline, receiving a loan of up to HK$80 million from its newly appointed deputy chairman Yang Yuezhou. He is expected to be in Britain from September 15 to 19.
