HKTV's lack of parent to back up finances key factor, government says
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is expected to explain today why Exco decided not to award a free-to-air TV licence to Ricky Wong's firm
Lack of financial support from a parent company was a major reason for the rejection of Hong Kong Television Network's application for a free-to-air broadcast licence.
That, at least, is the message the government is pushing in its last-minute lobbying effort to persuade its Legislative Council allies to vote against a proposal for a Legco investigation into the decision tomorrow.
This emerged as a government source said Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying would give a further explanation of the Executive Council's decision today. Other Exco members are also expected to do so over the next two days.
Legislators will vote tomorrow on whether to invoke the council's special powers to investigate last month's controversial decision, which sparked widespread protest.
PCCW's Hong Kong Television Entertainment Company and iCable's Fantastic Television, both subsidiaries of corporate giants, won ahead of Ricky Wong Wai-kay's independent HKTV.
With the government still four functional constituency votes short of the number needed to defeat the move initiated by Charles Mok to use Legco's special investigative powers, the administration is continuing its efforts to win over 12 wavering lawmakers.