No staff, no news at dying Hong Kong broadcaster ATV
Staff exodus leaves station unable to air newscasts as required by its licence terms
The finale of beleaguered Hong Kong broadcaster ATV’s real-life drama has arrived earlier than scheduled after it failed to air its licence-mandated Chinese and English newscasts last night because of a mass exodus of staff over unpaid wages.
The station said its news broadcasts had been “suspended” and could not confirm when or if they would resume.
Under the terms of its licence, Asia Television was required to broadcast two newscasts of at least 15 minutes each between 6pm and midnight on its Chinese and English-language channels. That did not happen yesterday because hardly anyone turned up for work – many had already quit the night before.
A Communications Authority spokesman said yesterday that the suspension could result in “different levels of punishment”, depending on the nature and severity of the case.
Earlier this week, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung made clear that ATV could have its licence revoked before it officially expired on April 1, or face further financial penalties, if it failed to honour its obligations to keep providing free-to-air services.
READ MORE: Management of Hong Kong’s cash-strapped ATV vow utmost effort to pay salaries after angry staff told to wait another month
Jeff Wong Sau-tong, ATV’s senior public relations manager, said: “Because of manpower and other conditions, we had no choice but to suspend our newscasts. We may have to wait until after the Lunar New Year ... to see if the newscasts will be resumed.”
Since December 2011, ATV has been fined at least 16 times – totalling more than HK$4 million – over frequent delays in paying salaries and other licensing violations.
Founded in 1957 as Rediffusion Television, the station was the worlds’ first Chinese-language television broadcaster.
In April last year, the government announced it would not be renewing ATV’s licence because the station had failed to submit a sustainable business plan to carry on. It was allowed to operate until April 1 this year.
Yesterday, about 80 ATV staff attended a briefing organised by the Labour Department reviewing their rights as employees. The department said there were 260 job vacancies in various broadcasting companies that might suit them.
Many staff had no regrets about having worked at ATV, and seemed ready to move on.
“The bond among the staff at the station will last forever,” said artist Lau Shek-yin. “I have worked here for 28 years and I have had the best time of my life here. However, I never expected such an ending.”
READ MORE: Decision not to renew ATV licence wins government rare praise
Under section 10A of the Employment Ordinance, employees are allowed to terminate their contracts without the consent of their employers if they are not paid one month after the payroll is due. Lau said some artists had already exercised that section and that he was ready to do the same.
Some ATV staff were paid their December payroll, but none had yet received their January wages.
Other staff who went back to their Tai Po office yesterday said it looked like a “ghost town”, except for some who were there to pack up their belongings.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said the government was trying to help each and every affected employee, estimated to number 400 to 500.
Major ATV creditor Wong Ching, who sold his controlling stake to mainland businessman Si Rongbin last year, filed an order to the High Court to liquidate ATV. Wong said in a statement he had decided to act because “the new investor could not fulfil his role” and “to avoid the chaos persisting”.
