Commercial Radio drops outspoken host Li Wei-ling

Hong Kong media are calling it “the coldest day” yet for freedom of Hong Kong press, as outspoken talk-show host Li Wei Ling has been “brutally” sacked from Commercial Radio.The move comes less than three month after she was removed form her popular morning prime time show On a Clear Day to night show The Tipping Point.Commercial Radio told Marketing there would be no explanation for the dismissal.Li’s departure comes a day after Commercial Radio CEO Stephen Chan Chi-wan stepped down to be an advisor on strategy and development.“They can brutally remove me from my role, but they cannot stop me from monitoring current affairs in Hong Kong," Li told Apple Daily yesterday.On her Facebook, she wrote: "Not only today has chilly wind, but also cold rain.”The Journalists Association describes the dismissal as a "highly concerning" issue and the broadcaster's lack of explanation irresponsible.Last night around 100 staff at Commercial Radio staged a protest called “Supporting Li Wei-ling” against the dismissal, which is suspected to link with the broadcaster's licence renewal in 2016.Concerns over the declining journalistic freedom in Hong Kong have become a hot topic since Ming Pao removed chief editor Lau Chun-to, and the withdrawal of main advertisers from Apply Daily.Hot on the heels of the slams on media censorship, World Press Freedom Index 2014 reveals yesterday that Hong Kong has fallen three spots from the 58th to the 61th, tying the record low in 2007.