Ricky Wong Wai-kay was withering in his criticism of Asia Television (ATV). The broadcaster's new chief executive told staff it was probably the worst-run corporation he had seen. It had no internal communications, no morale and no direction. 'I think I just need only 20 per cent of my previous experience to successfully turn around ATV,' he said, just days after taking up the role.
How wrong he was. Within 14 days he had resigned. Mr Wong's reign may well be the shortest of any boss in the broadcaster's history.
But what he said and did during his tumultuous two weeks in charge generated more front-page headlines for the broadcaster than at any other time in the 49 years it has been on the air.
The drama started on December 3 when Payson Cha Mou-sing, chairman of ATV's board of directors, persuaded veteran telecoms executive Linus Cheung Wing-lam to be the broadcaster's executive chairman. The appointment was rubber- stamped by the board of directors the same day.
Senior staff were called to a special meeting the following day, where the announcement of Mr Cheung's appointment would be made. But after Mr Cheung secured the board's approval, and unbeknown to anyone other than Mr Cha, he contacted Mr Wong, the City Telecom (Hong Kong) chairman, to discuss the terms and conditions of his appointment as chief executive.
Mr Wong signed his employment contract at 10.05pm at the Grand Hyatt hotel. He had spoken with Mr Cheung when Mr Cha was looking for the right person to save the troubled broadcaster in October, following the departure of former chief executive Louis Page.
On December 4, senior management gathered in the conference room at ATV's Tai Po headquarters, waiting for an announcement. At 9am, Mr Cheung arrived with Mr Wong, surprising everyone present.