A pay television joint venture between Star TV and Cable & Wireless HKT is preparing for launch despite doubts about the project's future.
'We are going full steam ahead and are ready to roll out once the licence is granted,' said Daniel Cheung Chun-on, the venture's chief operating officer.
But Pacific Century CyberWorks' victory in the takeover battle for HKT could have placed the venture's future in jeopardy.
Star TV owner Rupert Murdoch had attempted to tip the scales in favour of rival bidder Singapore Telecommunications with a commitment to invest US$1 billion in the Singapore firm.
Mr Murdoch was quoted in yesterday's Financial Times as saying CyberWorks chairman Richard Li Tzar-kai had made 'no secret that he would screw us out of the partnership with HKT'.
Star TV's operations face further uncertainty with the unexpected resignation on Tuesday of executive chairman and chief executive Gareth Chang Cheng-chung.
Mr Chang's departure was reportedly driven by a breakdown in relations with the Murdoch family. He could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
