Co-accused Miss Edthancy Tseng, 28, is the former personal assistant of Stephen Chan Chi-wan, 51, who is general manager of TVB. Both are accused of fraud and corruption by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Reference: Court quiz on Stephen Chan and TVB duties
Diana Lee
Thursday, June 23, 2011
TVB knew that its general manager Stephen Chan Chi-wan was acting beyond his usual duties when the station gave him the green light to appear at a commercial event, the District Court was told.
Chan, 51, looked calm on the second day of the trial in which the Independent Commission Against Corruption has alleged he and two co-defendants deceived TVB out of HK$960,000, with Chan's alleged involvement totaling HK$412,000.
Television actor and stalwart Chan supporter Wong Hei was in court to hear the evidence.
Au Kwok-hang, a manager at Sino Estates Management, which oversees Olympian City, accepted a suggestion by the defense that TVB arranged a program producer and scriptwriter for meetings with Sino for Chan's performance during a sideshow in the runup to a New Year's Eve countdown event at the end of 2009.
The mall did not contact TVB as it knew that neither Chan nor Wayne Lai Yiu-cheung - a freelance artist - were under management contract as were the other TVB artists.
A contract to ensure Chan and Lai's performance in a live Be my Guest sideshow was signed between Sino and Idea Empire Advertising and Production - run by co-defendant Edthancy Tseng Pei- kun, 28, who the industry knew represented Chan.
Another co-defendant, Wilson Chan Wing-shuen, is facing one charge.
Irene So Kit-lin, Au's superior as manager of retail marketing and promotions, agreed with a suggestion made by senior counsel Joseph Tse, acting for Chan, that TVB knew Chan and Lai were not part of the original deal valued at HK$1.3 million.
"Did the mall have to notify TVB what guests it found, as TVB had the final say in the countdown?" asked Wong Ching-yue, senior counsel for Tseng. "Yes," So answered.
On another alleged offense, which involved a book signing event on February 7, 2010, Au said the idea was initiated by IEAP, which guaranteed five leading artists would appear.
In return, the mall exempted venue fees, administration costs and relevant facilities, which could amount to HK$64,300, and agreed to pay TVB HK$30,000 for airtime and other expenditure.
Shida Yeung Mei-po, communications director of Ma Belle Jewellery, the February event sponsor, said it paid IEAP HK$300,000 for the appearance of five artists and for a promotional Chan video that would mention several name brands.
Staff from IEAP are expected to testify today.
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Perhaps they think her name is a bit over the top, even by Hongky standards?
ReplyDeleteEdthancy is a pretty over-the-top name, I guess! I was really only have a dig at the local newspapers, since the 'best' one (SCMP) is not being consistent, whilst the free newspaper (Standard) is.
ReplyDeleteHaving thought about this, I now wonder if it's the result of an inability to choose between Edith and Nancy - why not have both and be "unique"?
ReplyDeleteGood one. Also, how about Nancith?
ReplyDeleteMy pet theory is that many Hong Kong people (locals or Hongkies) have an inability to understand English together with a self-centered and self-important view of themselves. Hence, novel names.
Update: although a drawn-out court case, it now looks like Edthancy is in big trouble.
Oddly enough I have a cousin Edith and an Aunt Edith, and an Aunt Nancy. Too many relos.
ReplyDeleteMate, count yourself lucky that you do not have an auntie Edthancy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anon. Anyway, I am sure there are other people out there with relos who have even more weird and novel names! If you and other readers know of any, please send them my way (email). Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIf she ever gets admitted to hospital, the time spent on registration to ensure the correctness in spelling may be the cause of disaster. living dangerously with such names.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anon. I am sure the court recorder will agree with you about Ednancy, Ethnandy, Efficacy, er, Ms Tseng's name.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point. People with novel names may be at higher risk of exposing themselves to medical blunders … to speak nothing about exposing themselves to ridicule!