Catholic charity Caritas drawn into row over TVB 'hegemony'

One of Hong Kong's biggest charities has been drawn into a row over the city's television industry, after a leaked e-mail revealed one of its top directors had urged staff to boost TVB's ratings so the charity could benefit from a controversial donation offer.

TVB offered to give HK$3 million to Caritas and other welfare charities if ratings for its anniversary gala last night hit 30 points, equivalent to about 1.9 million viewers. It followed calls for a boycott from critics of the station's dominance of the television market.

The e-mail - sent on behalf of Caritas Hong Kong's director of social work services Maggie Chan Mei-kit - referenced the offer and said: "Please be informed that [the] director asks the service unit and staff to watch the TVB programme tonight."

Some Caritas staff described Chan's e-mail as "unnecessary and a step too far" and circulated an e-mail in reply, offering to make donations if the TVB show missed its ratings target.

Ratings for the show, watched by more than two million last year, will not be known for days.

Formed in 1953 by the city's Catholic diocese, Caritas provides social work, educational and medical services. A source who works for the charity confirmed the authenticity of the e-mails and identified Chan as the director referred to.

"I thought the whole gesture [by the director] was unnecessary and a step too far. The reply from the colleagues was, however, extremely gutsy," the source said.