Source: Oriental Daily, Apple Daily
Translated by: aZnangel @ http://asianuniverse.net/forums/





Ricky Wong poaches TVB veteran artists, Wayne Lai renews contract remaining loyal

Ricky Wong successfully poached many of the TVB staff over to CityTelecom. Today he attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the Tseung Kwan O Production Center. It was understood that Felix Wong, who previously called TVB 'Totally Very Bad', will be doing the lion dance along with Ricky! TVB saw the pressing momentum, the executives including Virgina Lok and Catherine Tsang quickly went to discuss contract renewal with their artists ahead of time. It was understood that many of the artists, who are still under contract, are taking advantage of the time to 'play hard to get'. Fortunately, the group of artists with abilities remained loyal to TVB, including Wayne Lai, Ben Wong and Angela Tong.

Reporters contacted Wayne Lai regarding this issue, he directly admitted that he has already lifted the pen to sign a contract renewal with TVB. This time, did Catherine Tsang personally discuss the contract with him since he's one of her favorites? He said: "We just discussed about the salary and the years. I'm very pleased by the price. (The conditions outside haven't touched you?) My work at TVB for this half of the year has already been tightly scheduled. I will at least be working until August. In the last half of the year, nothing has been confirmed. I don't want to promise anyone anything yet, also I will not give up on the Hong Kong market. I've tried doing series in China before, but after work each day, I'm staying in a room with four walls. I have a family too, so it's not really right for me."

Las year's 'Best Supporting Actor' Ben Wong also renewed his contract and has switched to a management contract. He expressed Catherine Tsang and Miss Lok both met with him. He gets a higher salary than before: "I have been collaborating with TVB for many years, and they have always had a lot of sincerity. Since the terms are pretty good, I want to continue this collaboration." He frankly said he gained more screen time in his new series Dangerous Drug Raid, and absolutely has room for development.

TVB is Angela Tong's first job, so she did not hesitate to continue the management contract: "I'm not willing to leave, it feels so comfortable here and its where I belong. (Waiting to marry here?) I renewed the contract already, of course I will be hardworking!"

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Ricky Wong poaches TVB veteran artists

Also, Ricky Wong has successfully poached over TVB's veteran artists as well, including Yuen Wah, Yu Mo Lin, Rain Lau, Sin Ho Ying, Felix Lok, Lisa Lui and a group of current veteran artists waiting for their contract to end, like John Chiang and Peter Lai are confirmed to sign with CityTelecom.

Yuen Wah has been with TVB for 16 years and they have been delaying time after time on meeting with him to discuss contract renewal. Eventually Yuen Wah turned disheartened. Reporters contacted Yuen Wah and asked if he feels TVB is disrespecting him? He said: "A little, there is some confusion within TVB, perhaps its still the handover period and there are some changes of staff internally. It's like all those people in the artist department who started the contract with me are gone now." He admitted in the past, he would discuss the contract renewal 3-4 months before his contract ends. Now, his contract is up and there still hasn't been notice of the renewal. He said: "My contract ended for so long already and still no one coming to discuss with me. So what now? Should I turn down him (Ricky Wong) and then go talk to TVB? If, they (TVB) said they won't renew the contract, then it's going to be hard to bear! Since someone else is asking me to join them, then I'll go."

Last year Rain Lau's contract ended, and she had already joined CityTelecom, she said: "My contract ended, so I will be at the ground-breaking ceremony. I just feel it's going to be memorable." When speaking if her salary went up? She said: "Yes you can consider that. Ricky had very good contract terms."