[2013.10.20] THE FILM DIRECTORS GUILD URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPLAIN THE TV LICENSE REJECTION

courtesy of singtao.com

The Hong Kong Directors Guild and the other affiliated organizations yesterday held a press conference in Kwun Tong to protest against the lack of transparency in the government's free television license issuing and demanded the government to address the public suspicions behind th reasons of the license rejection. Attendees included Derek Yee Tung Sing, Alfred Cheung Kin Ting, Ng See Yuen, Philip Chan Yun Kin and Joe Cheung Tung Cho. Hong Kong Film Directors Guild permanent honorary chair Ng See Yuen stressed that this time they were not only supporting a certain person or a certain television station. They felt that the incident has already turned into a community matter. He pointed out that many film professionals started in the television industry, thus the film industry had the duty to express its objection as it hoped to provide opportunities for the next generation of the creative industry.

Yee Tung Sing pointed out that the government had to quickly explain the reasons behind the license rejection. He felt that the original intent of adding free television licenses would be able to cultivate even more talent. Yet the process was a black box operation, and he worried that there would be no way to elevate television program quality. He said, "If I don't have any feeling for Hong Kong, today I wouldn't say this. The Hong Kong government often is just talk and doesn't act, making Hong Kong young people less prepared to compete than the Mainland's. Now instead I miss Tung Chee Hwa (former chief executive). He supported the film industry, but now the government doesn't at all." He also said that he has not watched a television series in 10 years and stated that he felt that they were not entertaining. He said that none of Ricky Wong Wai Kay's employees has asked the film industry for assistance.