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HONGKONG: After TVB general manager Stephen Chan was hauled up for questioning by Hong Kong's anti-graft body, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) last Thursday, artistes under his wing such as Louise Cheung and Patrick Tang are rumoured to have been cut off by TVB, said Hong Kong media.
Host Cheung used to receive a lot of opportunities from the company but was recently rumoured to have been cut off by TVB because his singer wife Kay Tse raised the ire of TVB for appearing on their rival ATV's programme.
Cheung had earlier put these rumours to rest and claimed that he was in the midst of preparing to shoot the second season of "Book of Words", a lifestyle show he co-hosts with Tang. Cheung said they were just deciding when to start shooting.
However, when contacted by Hong Kong media on Monday, the show's producer stressed that there were no instructions to produce the second season of "Book of Words".
"I was very surprised when I read the reports. If the company had plans [for the show], there is no reason I would not know about it," he said, though he added that he would respect the company's decision and work on the show if instructed to.
Top TVB executive Ho Lai Chuen confirmed there were no plans to shoot a second season of "Book of Words" though management had once considered turning it into a 'mini-programme' because its first season was popular with viewers.
As for Cheung's co-host Tang, who currently hosts the popular TVB music programme "Jade Solid Gold", may reportedly step down in favour of someone else come May, a development some say, is a direct result of Chan's fall from grace.
Ho did not comment much when reporters asked him about the matter.
"We evaluate every programme after each season. We will not change the show's ["Jade Solid Gold"] host yet," said Ho. "The show's next season begins in May, we have not decided on anything yet."
And according to Hong Kong media, Cheung and Tang are not the only ones affected by Chan's problems.
After Chan was hauled up by the ICAC, numerous TVB celebrities have reportedly begun distancing themselves from him, with many claiming that they had no dealings with him at all.
The ICAC have also recently expanded the scope of their investigation on Chan's alleged corruption to include a number of Hong Kong music labels that used to have close links with TVB, such as Amusic, Neway and EEG.
Chan, 50, was taken into custody along with TVB's head of business development Wilson Chan Wing-suen; variety department executive producer Wilson Chin Kwok-wai; actor Ning Jin; and the director of an advertising firm.
They were suspected of corruption involving HK$10 million (S$1.8 million).
Chan has not been charged and is currently out on bail.
- CNA/ha
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