Peace seems to have finally broken out at the lollipop-coloured Broadcast Drive headquarters of Asia Television (ATV), the poor-performing underdog of Hong Kong broadcasting. Honorary chairman Lim Por-yen, the tycoon convicted of corruption who describes Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa as a friend, revealed last week he had reached an 'amicable' settlement with the majority shareholders.
The revelation, in a notice to the stock exchange, apparently ends the long-running feud over debts he claims were owed to him, arising from the mainland consortium's buyout of his majority interest in the station.
The disputes have underscored the vital role Lim has played in providing loans as a financial lifeline to the station, which insiders say has struggled on a number of occasions to continue operating.
Now, eyebrows are being raised by a little noticed section of the Broadcasting Bill, currently before the Legislative Council, which seeks to ensure that only 'fit and proper persons' can exercise control - including serving as directors - at local broadcasting stations. But the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau is seeking to exempt existing broadcasters from this requirement. It would therefore not apply to Lim, still a director at ATV.
When he returned to Hong Kong after being found guilty of corruption in Taiwan, Lim made a special plea to staff at the station. 'The problems of ATV today make my heart sink,' the 84-year-old said in February last year. 'I call on ATV staff and artists to be united to overcome the difficulties.' Lim had spent 14 months in forced exile harassing ATV executives with faxes and videotapes of the types of Taiwan programmes he wanted it to air and exchanging insults with new executives.
He was unable to return while facing bribery charges on the island. He was found guilty and jailed for three years and two months in February last year, for funnelling $55.68 million in bribes over a land deal to a Taiwanese local government through a former aide who has disappeared.
Lim, who has denied any wrongdoing, has appealed. He lost an attempt to have the conviction overturned but the sentence was reduced by one year. His lawyer indicated he would appeal again.