If Hongkong media reports are true, TVB artistes will soon have to take full responsibility for their own scandals. And yes, that involves compensating the parties your indiscretions very affected on a professional level.

On July 5, HK101 shared that the broadcaster is in the final stages of adding a new clause to its contracts, which will explicitly state that an artiste who causes unnecessary losses to the company as a result of their actions or words will have to take full responsibility and also pay the compensation fees that arise from their behaviour.

Prostitution, gambling, abusing drugs or engaging in actions that cause political rifts between China and Hongkong have also been named as behaviour that is strictly prohibited. The last requirement is believed to have been added because of the increasing number of Hongkong dramas being co-produced with Chinese broadcasters.

In the past year, a number of female TVB stars were involved in high profile scandals that cost the company big time. Jacqueline Wong’s backseat dalliance with Andy Hui is believed to have cost TVB some HK$10mil (S$1.8mil) because the shows she were involved in had to be reshot with all of her scenes edited out.

And with her reputation in tatters, Jacqueline was also dropped by advertisers who reportedly demanded compensation that media outlets estimated to be about HK$100mil (S$18mil).

TVB actress Ali Lee’s showbiz career also came to a halt after an IG post she made last August suggested that she is in support of the pro-independence movement in Hongkong. She was then dropped from numerous dramas, many of which were co-productions with Chinese TV stations.

Then there's Ashley Chu, who was caught going on a date with her married co-star Jackson Lai earlier this year. She later confessed to having an affair with him in a press conference.

Industry insiders have claimed that TVB wants to avoid similar situations from harming their company’s reputation, not to mention pockets, again and that the additional clause has been in the works for months. Nancy Wu, who will be renewing her contract with TVB soon, was asked about the new clause but she declined to comment on the matter, only saying that she is “unsure” if said clause will be included in her new contract.

Photos: PBE Media