The public uproar caused by the government's rejection of a free-to-air licence for Ricky Wong Wai-kay's HKTV grew yesterday as staff expressed support for Wong despite the announcement of 320 lay-offs at the station.
Last night, 417,000 web users had "liked" a Facebook page urging the government to issue a licence to HKTV.
The view on the street, meanwhile, was that political considerations were behind the decision to award licences to two bidders backed by big corporations, iCable and PCCW, while excluding maverick Wong.
Edward Pang, an outside broadcast crew member who joined HKTV's predecessor HK Broadband Network seven years ago, said news of lay-offs came as a shock "but it seems we've no choice but to accept the outcome".
"I haven't had high hopes ever since C.Y. Leung became chief executive last year … The Lord will help Mr Wong," Pang said, adding he expected to be fired.
Online marketing staff member Chan Ka-wai said he understood Wong's decision and was not worried about finding another job.