Commercial Radio Host Li Wei-ling Sacked

(Credits: SCMP)

Commercial Radio sacked outspoken host Li Wei-ling last Wednesday, less than three months after she was moved from the prime-time breakfast slot On A Clear Day to the less prominent Tipping Point programme.

The removal of Li, a fierce government critic, comes ahead of the broadcaster's expected bid to renew its licence, which expires in 2016. It also comes a day after the company's chief executive, Stephen Chan Chi-wan, renamed himself chief adviser, saying his former role could be subject to government moves to regulate editorial-like programmes. Commercial Radio offered no comment on the situation.

Li wrote on Facebook the same night she was sacked: “Although they can ruthlessly remove me from my position, they can't stop me from monitoring Hong Kong's current affairs.” Li said she had a free hand in running her talk show until Leung Chun-ying became Chief Executive more than a year ago. Li claimed she also got on well with principal adviser and former chief executive Stephen Chan Chi-wan, from the time he joined the station until about a year ago, when he told her over a meal the government was dissatisfied with the station.

“As for my dismissal, I believe the final decision was made by deputy chairwoman Winnie Yu Tsang.” Li hopes that her immediate sacking without notice will “wake up” more people amid the worsening media environment. “As a part of Hong Kong, we can only rely on the power of the public and do what we can do,” she said.

On 13th February, a group of protesters gathered outside Commercial Radio's offices in Hong Kong early in the morning to demand an explanation as to why Li, who had been critical of the government, was fired.

Civic Party lawmaker Claudia Mo Man-ching called the dismissal “shocking”. Mo said she would follow up on the matter at a meeting of Legco's information technology and broadcasting panel. Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing described it as “an unprecedented attack on the city's press freedom” and demanded a swift explanation from the station.

The Journalists Association said it was “highly concerned” about her dismissal, calling the radio's lack of an explanation “not responsible”. Dozens of journalists and activists held a vigil outside the station last night.