Source: Mingpao Translation: llwy12 Virginia Lok denies taking over Stephen Chan’s GM responsibilities Earlier, Stephen Chan held a press conference to explain that he has been meeting up with friends and going out to eat as normal since his release on bail several days ago. After attending a seminar at Hong Kong University the day before yesterday, Chan was out and about again yesterday, having lunch as well as tea with lawyer Mr. Tang, returning home after 5 hours. Yesterday, around noon, Stephen Chan and Mr. Tang left Chan’s residence and took a taxi to Tsim Sha Tsui for lunch. Even though he was surrounded by reporters and wouldn’t answer their questions, he maintained a smile on his face, just like he did during his press conference. Chan’s ‘leisure’ the past couple days contrasts starkly with the ‘busy-ness’ of TVB’s other ‘popular’ manager – Head of Production and Resources Virginia Lok. Yesterday, Lok attended the event <<Hong Kong Music Exhibition>> on behalf of TVB, however she arrived only after the event had ended. She explained that because of a meeting that ran late plus her own slow driving, she arrived at the event so late. There have been rumors that Virginia Lok will be taking over Stephen Chan’s GM responsibilities at TVB, so when she arrived at the event, she was surrounded by reporters waiting to ask her about the various rumors. Lok denied that she was taking over the GM position, saying: “No such thing; TVB has a very solid system, so it will be business as usual.” She expressed that whether before or after Stephen Chan’s issue, TVB has a set of policies and procedures that will be followed. It was rumored that when Stephen Chan held his press conference earlier, Mona Fong was very concerned about the content of the press conference and followed it very closely. Virginia Lok expressed that she did not know about that and actually all of Hong Kong was concerned – even she herself watched the press conference. When asked about Stephen Chan’s ‘golden saying’ [What is real cannot be false, what is false cannot be real] from his press conference, Lok laughed and said that line is indeed very mysterious. However, when the reporter asked her about the rumors that over 100 TVB artists were interrogated by the ICAC, Lok ‘borrowed’ part of Chan’s line for her response: “There were only 10 or so people interrogated from my department (artists department), what is false cannot be real.” She also indicated that TVB’s actions of finally ‘opening the city’ today is because Ms. Fong felt that the situation can subside; the actions of ‘closing the city’ previously was to ensure everyone’s safety, plus now the ICAC has no need to interrogate any of TVB’s staff anymore. How about the rumors that those belong to Stephen Chan’s group will be eliminated? Lok expressed that there are no ‘parties’ or ‘groups’ at TVB and that the focus has always been on promoting those who have ability and are able to perform. (How about the rumors that a top female executive received expensive handbags as gifts?) She indicated that with regard to untrue reports, she will not comment; if the situation crosses the line, then there will be legal action. Every year, at Virginia Lok’s birthday party, there are always quite a few artists – including 2nd and 3rd line artists – who attend. Asked whether she would tell the artists not to give gifts this year to avoid unnecessary speculation, Lok responded that the media should ask those artists who give gifts. During the interview with reporters, i-Cable’s reporter also placed their microphone in front of Virginia Lok. When she discovered this, she immediately pushed the microphone away and also turned around so that her back was toward the i-Cable reporter.
I am sure she aiming at that seat for a long time but I certainly hope she will not get it. Virginia is just as bad as Stephen on the job. If she takes the helm, then more disasters will soon follow. TVB really needs new blood and management change altogether.
ID QUITE LIKE TO SEE HER on the throne, because it would be her team of artists that are heavily promoted, not the usuals patrick amigo fala and chan himself.
