'Disqualified' Chinese media mogul to join TVB as non-ex director

Chinese media mogul Li Ruigang has been approved to join the board of free TV giant Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) as a non-executive director, despite being a "disqualified person" under Hong Kong's broadcasting ordinance.The status is due to his association with advertising agency business in China and overseas as well as a non-domestic television programme service licensee. His appointment as a director of TVB needs to be approved by chief executive Leung Chun Ying and the executive council, which he now obtains.It also revealed that Li will in fact become the fourth disqualified person that the Hong Kong government has permitted to become a TVB board director. The others with the status include TVB chairman Charles Chan,  TVB’s CEO Mark Lee, and non-executive director Thomas Hui.Critics have pointed to his appointment as another sign that Hong Kong’s supposedly independent press is being taken over by mainland Chinese forces. Information and technology legislator Charles Mok questioned the appointment. “There is regulation there. Why didn’t the Chief Executive just follow it?” he asked.On the other hand, the company said it welcomes the approval. “Mr Li will not participate in the daily operation of TVB. He will advise on the general corporate planning as well as business strategies and contribute to the long-term growth of TVB with his unrivaled connections both within China and internationally,” a TVB spokesman said in a statement."Approval for them to be directors of TVB will facilitate the company to invest in the film, television production and online multimedia markets in Hong Kong, Mainland China and other territories," it said.