Al Wai Asks Hong Kong Chief Executive to Reverse Rejection of HKTV’s License
HKTV artist, Al Wai (艾威), is not afraid to voice out against the government ‘s decision in rejecting HKTV’s license application. He even wrote a letter to Hong Kong Chief Executive, CY Leung (梁振英), asking the government to reverse its decision.
Al’s motivation is simple: to do what he feels is the right thing despite the personal consequences he will face.”I don’t think there is a chance for [HKTV’s] license to be approved,” Al said, “but I have to say something. The worst case scenario is to change career tracks, get beaten up, go to prison, or have something unusual happen to me. Am I scared? Even if I felt scared, then should I not step forward? But if I don’t step forward during a time when I should do something, I would feel regret.”
In the industry for 30 years, Al had previously worked at TVB and appeared in hundreds of dramas and portrayed diverse roles. However, striving for a breakthrough in his career, Al Wai decided to join HKTV when Ricky Wong (王維基) was enlisting actors for his new company. Upon leaving TVB, Al Wai was one of the actors who voiced out their unhappiness with TVB, which made it difficult to return back to the station.
However, Al does not regret speaking out against TVB’s poor pay and long hours, as change only comes when the issues are raised. “I want to ask if there is no one to point out the problems, will TVB presently reveal their intention to improve the staff’s welfare?”
Fight Against the Government
Although Al admitted he was thinking about himself when he switched station, the efforts put in by everyone at HKTV, made Al felt that his actions are for a greater good. He said, “Now it feels like we are fighting against the government. It’s really funny. A city that has been a democratic for so many years and it’s changing now. From the rule of the law to rule over the people.”
In a letter addressed to Hong Kong Chief Executive, CY Leung, in which Al revealed the contents to the media, Al pleaded for the government to reverse its HKTV license decision. He believes that the competitive Hong Kong market will be able to adjust to an additional television station. Al wrote in the letter, “Right now, the current system is incompatible with the public sentiment in Hong Kong. Although we must respect the laws of the country, with your intelligence and power, it would be even better if your concept can be consistent with the general public and reverse the situation. Whether the entire city cheers or cries in the end, you have the power to change that.”
Source: ihktv.com
This article is written by Karen for JayneStars.com.
An act of futility, not because the purpose is wrong but the person writing it is not someone considered influential at all. Perhaps if Jackie Chan and the sort does it, maybe. But the decision is set. However big a star, or organisation, no one can fight a bigger influence.
Exactly. As much as I want HKTV to get their license, I know it’s pretty much impossible at this point given the ruling body in HK (honestly, CY Leung will probably take Wilson’s letter and tear it up without reading it).
And no, doesn’t matter how big of a star you are — if the govt is dead set on not granting HKTV a license, they’re not going to get one no matter who does the talking. I mean, we already had one of HK’s biggest stars (also an international superstar) Chow Yun Fat speaking up on the issue in support of HKTV — he even went as far as ‘dissing’ the HK government for ‘using’ artists for self-promotion when the need arises in order to make HK ‘look good in the eyes of outside countries, but yet, when the entertainment industry needs help, the govt doesn’t lift a finger (in fact, instead of helping the industry, they have a hand in destroying it). To me, Fat Gor’s words are very powerful, especially coming from him (look at how much weight TVB always put on Fat Gor’s comments about their series and artists) — but has that helped the situation any? Nope.
Even the biggest celebrity is just a small potato in a political game. And behind the politicians, you’ll find the powerful business people.
Give it up already. Move on. HKTV lost the war and now it’s back to reality.
Actually, they’ve got one more chance, as there will be 2 motions related to the free TV license issue that will be put on the table at this Wednesday’s Legislative Council meeting — if both of those motions fail, then yes, it’s pretty much a done deal and HKTV should move on. CY Leung is actually scheduled to provide an explanation on the license decision today in a pre-emptive effort to rally votes against both motions….
I guess we’ll find out on Wednesday what ends up happening (though in my opinion, the outlook is grim for HKTV…)
Agree with @MRS. TORRES
Wow, if everyone acts like you…by not taking any action at all…then humanity is truly lost. People should be more concerned about losing this ‘war’ because it’s not only about getting a TV license. Ultimately, it’s about corruption in the HK government and HK citizens not having the right to choose. This time, it’s a TV station, what will it be next time? Democracy served HK pretty well up until 97, but it seems it’s all going down the drain now. This ‘reality’ you speak of is one that all HK people should be fighting against. You can’t move on from this. By giving up, you are telling those in power that you are giving up your rights and consenting to their wrongful doings.
I don’t think Al Wai’s letter will make much of a difference, but at the very least he had the courage and will to write that letter and send it to CY Leung. How many other actors and actresses have the balls to do the same?
You talk about corruption in the HK government and if this is a case of corruption it is like a drop in the ocean compared with corruption faced by many other countries.
i’m getting annoyed with all these artist speaking out lol hope hktv will never get the license
Then switch to North Korea entertainment section then.
LOL. I think that’s your best comment here.
I pretty much agree on that, we should rather watch mtv like wrecking balls or smoke weeds and ingest molly when we are free instead of watching dramas.
I guess if there is a chance, then there is hope. Just like a decade or two ago, same sex marriage was an impossibility, now, it is gradually accepted. Give it time…
Because HK is democratic country I think the HK government will listen to the public opinion. Let’s wait and see.
Hong Kong is not really a democratic. They been having crapship Chief Executives since 97 and it has been controlled by Communist China.
We never had democracy in Hong Kong during British rule. In addition look at the corrupt police force headed by them, who received bribes to allow triads to flourish to this day.
So pre 97 is just as bad.
@ GingerMessiah
Depends on your point of view. Pre-97 HK was influenced by capitalist forces. Post-97 is controlled by “communist” forces. I say “communist” because everyone knows the CPC is NOT communism the way Marx envisioned it.
Talking about mainland-Hong Kong politics there’s right now an intense ongoing weibo war (on Deric’s weibo) brewing between Deric Wan and Chapman To over the former’s previous very public declaration of his great love for China. And of course the netizens just have to chip in with their two cents.
Presently both Deric’s and Chapman’s names made the Celebrity Hot Search List on weibo.
@clamine: Yup, I read about that. Deric also got bombarded with a bunch of crap comments on weibo too because of it (“water generals” at work no doubt) — to the point that he claims he turned all the information over to the Mainland police to handle (of course nothing is going to get done…a bit too ‘naive’ on Deric’s part).
Actually, based on alot of the stuff Deric has said on his weibo, it sounds to me that he doesn’t necessarily hate HK per se, but rather, he ‘hates’ the HK Media (he posted a ‘manifesto’ of sorts against the HK Media a few weeks ago and to this day, still refuses to be interviewed by any HK Media outlet).
The Chinese government agree that 50 years no change from their ruling when they took over from the British can the HK ppl trust their government now ? I pity the HK ppl.
You should pity the stupid British government to signing the garbage document to the Communist China.
Poor HK when they are under the ruling of British; the British ppl just using HK as a port to divert their money back to Britain and now under the mainland China government ruling they are also the same.
Well, from an entertainment industry perspective, things were definitely better under British rule because at the very least, the government back then supported the entertainment industry and encouraged the industry’s growth (part of the reason we had such great entertainment back in the 70s/80s/90s was because the government was supportive of the arts). Since China took over in 1997, the new government has done nothing to support the entertainment industry — in fact, instead of encouraging the arts like the previous govt did, the current govt stifles it.
So in that context, there’s pretty much no hope for a ‘breakthrough’ in the HK entertainment industry — the industry will only continue to deteriorate more and more to the point that eventually, it will probably cease to exist anymore…
sorry to burst yoru bubble but you wrong. The entertainment back in the 70s/80s/90s were great everywhere!! Back in those days, people actually sat down and composed a song for years before they came out. Nowadays fierce competitive industry makes everybody pushing out garbage!! Look at America, even with democratic government, it coudlnt’ escape the test of time. Music here is garbage!
@llwy,
Very well said; love your thoughtful comment.
@llwy12,
Well said and I agree with you but feel sad and I hope that the entertainment industry will not reach the point that it will cease to exist. However, I feel it is not just the e circle in Hk because as you have seen, they put a lot of restrictions on productions in China too. They ban this and that and I bet more and more restrictions and rules will be made with time. I think the entertainment industry will exist but with many restrictions that must be followed which will sadly hurt its development and creativity.
@darren: Please read my post. I am referring specifically to the HONG KONG entertainment industry and the HONG KONG government under British rule vs Mainland rule. How it’s like in other countries/nations is irrelevant in this case, so no need to bring others into it.
china is taking back what originally belonged to them, nothing wrong with that, but you HK people better be prepared and expect more changes to come.
well it is normal. since hk belongs to china, china can do what they want
On a side note, it’s sad to see that Al Wai won’t be back to reprise his role in On Call II as Tavia’s dad. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance in that. Disappointing…but classic tvb stunt, not giving a damn.
yeah tvb is good, but pls remember to watch miley cyrus’s mtv, they are better
I am watching Hippocratic Crush 2 and took me a moment to remember he was Tavia’s dad. Poor man! So he isn’t in the sequel! But remember what’s her name with the drug arrest? She was in for a short moment.
Anyway need help. What’s the name of the actor in glasses that was the young intern and was super annoyed by the elderly patient who loves chocolates in ep 1?