Tape proves broadcaster DBC a victim of Bejing meddling, co-host says
Leaked conversations suggest liaison office did not want a controversial host to work at DBC
A leaked tape seen as proof that troubled radio station DBC was a victim of political interference from Beijing has sparked renewed controversy over the broadcaster's future.
The tape, understood to be records of conversations between the shareholders of Digital Broadcasting Corporation, was posted on YouTube last night and received more than 11,000 clicks. It was also played by station staff at a rally at government headquarters in Tamar, Admiralty.
The clip, which lasts for just over 4½ minutes, concerns two meetings of DBC directors, one in May last year and the other in February or March this year, a station spokeswoman said.
A man DBC says is shareholder Bill Wong Cho-bau can be heard commenting on a plan to hire Lee Wai-ling, who hosts current affairs talk shows for Commercial Radio and is critical of the government.
"Lee Wai-ling. We have heard her. She is too provocative," the man says. "Ah Peng told me the liaison office is very offended by her." The director of the liaison office is Peng Qinghua.
"If she really comes, and Taipan cannot control her... We don't want to get involved in politics," he adds. Taipan is the nickname of DBC founder Albert Cheng King-hon.