Consultancy says TV licence decision is unfair and it must speak up

The consultancy that wrote the report on free-to-air television licences said it did not mind burning its bridges with the government because the decision to reject Hong Kong Television Network's bid was unjust.

"This government didn't do its homework. It changed the rules of the game without consultation. As a Hongkonger, I must speak up," Value Partners Asia managing partner Jenny Ng Pui-ying said.

"I don't mind if I don't get business from the government any more," she said. "When I decided to speak up, I knew I would upset some people and my business might be affected.

"People want our service because we are professional, not because we are 'yes men'."

Ng said the government kept imposing its problematic logic on the consultancy study prepared by her company. And it used the company as a shield against public criticisms.

In multiple attempts to explain the rationale behind its decision, the government cited market sustainability and how introducing more players in one go might cause cut-throat competition, which might lead to the decline of programming quality. Ng said this did not make sense.