The publisher of the Hong Kong Daily News insisted yesterday the paper would continue despite the sacking of 56 reporters over the weekend.
However, chief executive officer and publisher Tsui Siu-wa did not rule out further lay-offs, warning staff to equip themselves so they could deal with the company's development into a multi-media group.
Mr Tsui said the sacked reporters had been from the crime, news and entertainment desks. All had been compensated according to the law, he said.
Total staff now numbered 314, with less than 100 in the newsroom. Four pages of the paper had been cut to leave 13 pages of editorial. He said the lay-offs, rather than an attempt to cut costs, were necessary to fit in the 'repositioning' of the group.
In future the group would not only run the 40-year-old newspaper but also consider opportunities in a number of media areas including Internet services and digital radio.
Mr Tsui said the final number on the payroll would be around 250 to 300, implying there could be 50 more redundancies.