Anger at delay in bidding process for new TV licences in Hong Kong

If the bidding process for new free-to-air television licences was a long-running drama series, Ricky Wong Wai-kay would have taken over the director's chair and yelled, "Cut".

The chairman of City Telecom, one of three bidders, has blasted the government for leaving bidders waiting more than 1,000 days for a decision, saying it's unreasonable and infuriating.

At stake is a huge expansion in viewer choice. Wong alone wants to offer up to 30 channels within six years, and a massive investment in programming. While most of the shows would be in Cantonese, each of three bidders is prepared to offer an English language channel.

Since the saga began in 2009, the telecoms boss has been restrained, patient and hopeful. But having invested more than HK$300 million, completed production of four drama series, built a new 400,000 sq ft multimedia centre, and even sold his core telecom business, including Hong Kong Broadband Network, being "Mr Nice Guy" no longer works.

"Protracted procrastination is not only an act of irresponsibility but, as some might say, a sin," he said last week.

Wong's frustration is not surprising. The organisation that initially considered the licence applications has even had time to change its name from the Broadcasting Authority to the Communications Authority since giving them the nod. The applications are now with the Executive Council - but why the government's top advisory body continues to delay on the issue is unclear.

For three consecutive days, Wong put the issue of the new licences upfront - speaking out after a Legislative Council meeting and then doing the rounds of morning talk shows on Commercial Radio and RTHK.