Miss Asia Pageant results refuted

Hong Kong Asia Television's (ATV) executive chairman Linus Cheung refuted on Monday, the results of Miss Asia Pageant which was announced last week. Reports have shown that the pageant results and public voting results do not tally. ATV has set up an independent investigation team to look into the greatest scandal in the history of the pageant. Chief executive Ricky Wong also resigned on the same day after 12 days into his new appointment.

Miss Asia Pageant has 20 years history and is one of Asia's most reputable pageants. This year, to increase the entertainment and excitement value, the pageant's top three winners and "Perfect Figure Award" are given based on public voting through the Internet and mobile phone, instead of being based on professional judgment. Hot favorite Eunice Yao commanded popular support and successfully won the crown. Belinda Yen was first runner up and also "Miss Photogenic"; second runner up was Lene Lai from Taiwan. But now, none of them is able to retain their crowns.

A week after the pageant ended, Cheung called for an urgent press conference with the support of his Vice President to refute the results. They said the results have violated the principles of trust, fairness and justice. An independent task force will look into the matter and the result is estimated to be out in two months time.

Cheung reveals in an internal meeting held on Dec 10 that Wong found inconsistency in the statistical report of the public voting results and the crowning results. Wong informed Cheung of the discrepancy immediately.

At the press conference, Cheung took a bow to express his apologies to the contestants and the legislative council Timothy Fok.