“I thank God for giving me such a good legal team.” And so sayeth TVB General Manager Stephen Chan as he walked away from the clutches of Evil a free man after being found not guilty of defrauding the broadcaster.
It’s a miracle that Chan did not thank the judge in this case. Or, perhaps, his new “God” is Judge Poon Siu-tung who dismissed all charges against Chan and two co-defendants last week and made the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) look like witless dorks and the Keystone Cops combined.
This is, of course, nothing new for the ICAC who have now built a reputation for themselves for leveling charges at high-profile figures in Hong Kong, making a huge song-and-dance about their “sweeps” on the houses of these people, taking away “evidence”, but how, when push comes to shove and everyone gathers in court, their cases are so weak they are thrown out.
The ICAC either needs help, or is not relevant to Hong Kong and the organization is looking more and more like a waste of space and reminiscent of the Boy Who Cried Wolf One Too Many Times.
To those in the entertainment industry, the Stephen Chan saga went on for months. It looked like an open and shut case- at least according to the dribs and drabs of news spilt to the public by the local media. In fact, at some publications, the result of the trial came as such a surprise that their pre-written stories had to have some quick re-writes and sub-editors had to think of new headlines.
So, did the Judge get it wrong or did the ICAC goof up – or, is Stephan Chan and his co-defendants as clean as a baby’s bottom?
Who knows though “bottom” is a key word in this case and it has many interpretations…
Of course, nothing whatsoever to do with Stephen Chan, but the entireHong Kongmusic industry is as corrupt as hell and no one wears white hats. Everyone, however, wants their palms greased.
If one has the power of, let’s say, for the sake of an example, Stephen Chan, he or she, can make or break any new local artist and they are paid to do so – mainly to break a new artist.
Want an artist to win an “award”? Mo man tai, friends. Just pay the piper in kind – money or other favours.
If you think the old Casting Couch System is not alive and well in Hong Kongand very well used by now, you’ve been living under a rock.
Forget all these fake “celebrity marriages” and babies that pop out of nowhere.
Squeaky clean and homophobic Hong Kong is rampant with secrets and where boys will be girls and girls will be boys and with everything happening behind closed doors and inside closets.
Yes, it’s not unlike all those “rumours” about Tom Cruse and John Travolta
Big stars and big money buy silence and media space to tweak the truth, live a lie and make heaps of moola in the process.
Sure, The Truth Is Out There – but no one wants to see it and nor is it shown.
Insinuated, yes, but never shown.
What’s next for Stephan Chan?
Does TVB need him, or, more to the point, does he need TVB?
Stephen Chan is an extremely smart, ambitious man.
He has not got to where he is today by being a wallflower though one hears he can be a bit of a dandelion and water lily.
He has friends in high places, he is feared by that very small group of Hong Kong showbiz sycophants who need his favours, he has “investors” and he’ll pop up somewhere a vindicated man who will play the God card for as long as necessary.
Where will all this lead?
Nowhere new really.
Stephen Chan is “only all about Hong Kong” and he knows it.
He has nowhere else to go – and why should he?
He is a Big King Fish in a very small cesspool.
His wheel of fortune ain’t broke so there is no need for him to fix it. Just ride it.
He will keep doing whatever it was that he has been doing for many years and life will go on as usual.
His role in the Hong Kong entertainment business?
Who knows?
The Hong Kong entertainment industry will just trudge along being the pox on society that it has always been.
Unless the ICAC finally get their act together and truly cleans it up – hopefully, with a machete.
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