Internet tycoon Richard Li Tzar-kai has urged the media to steer away from sensationalism - even though he admits it sells.
'I feel Hong Kong has tilted towards sensationalism over the past three to four years,' said Mr Li, head of Pacific Century CyberWorks and son of Li Ka-shing. He said Hong Kong should keep off the road of sensationalism, even though 'in terms of business', it attracted readers and advertising. Mr Li is known to have been angered when some newspapers carried pictures of him with a girlfriend last year.
'I think press freedom is very important. But what's most important is for them to be impartial. I feel that Hong Kong's competition is so strong partly because we have a free press.'
Mr Li said, like the media, university students could also play a role in monitoring society.
Asked whether Hong Kong University students were being too critical of vice-chancellor Professor Cheng Yiu-chung over the Robert Chung Ting-yiu poll affair, Mr Li said: 'I think it's right to be concerned about society. As to whether it's too radical, I think they should analyse whether what they do will have a positive impact on society.'
He said such issues were not always black or white. 'For instance, Hong Kong has a very free press. On the one hand, sometimes what they write might not necessarily be accurate. On the other hand, it can play a very important monitoring role.
