Ip Ka-po, veteran boss of Hong Kong's ATV, steps down after fresh pay blow
Five days after a court slapped a fine of HK$150,000 on Ip Ka-po for failing to pay ATV staff on time, the television veteran announced on Monday night that he had resigned because the broadcaster was unable to pay its November salaries.
An ATV spokesman said the broadcaster had received an amount of money from its investors, but it was only enough to pay about half the employees.
Ip, 59, wrote on his blog that he had taken responsibility for ATV and he did not want to face such offences again.
"I was left with no choice but to resign from my position as executive director," he wrote.
Ip was fined HK$150,000 last week for failing to pay staff wages.
Yesterday was the deadline for the troubled broadcaster to pay staff their November wages.
Ip wrote on his blog that he had tried his best to push shareholders and investors to pay up. He said that although he had now left as executive director, he would continue to help ATV staff fight for their rights.
"I am thankful to everyone who has fought adversity with me during a time when ATV is facing its most difficult days," he said.
He added that he had written a "glorious page" in the history of ATV because of his perseverance on behalf of the station, even though "this may not be the best ending".
Last week there was a dramatic round of applause inside the court, which was packed with about 50 supporters, after Ip escaped a jail sentence and was instead only ordered to pay a fine of HK$150,000.
Ip later described his court conviction as "the greatest stain" on his life.
ATV, which has struggled for years in the face of financial difficulties and competition from dominant player TVB, was told in April that its broadcasting licence would not be renewed.
