The recent sacking of popular Commercial Radio host Wong Yuk-man has sparked the event, which takes place Saturday evening at Chater Garden. But much more is at stake, according to the legislators.

``Wong's case is just a signal,'' said Emily Lau of the Frontier. ``If we do not act now to stop the tide, things will only get worse. Events recently taking place in the media scene speak volumes over the dwindling state of press freedom in Hong Kong.''

Apart from Wong's sacking, other high-profile events have raised concerns political pressure is curbing press freedom.

Most notable was the timing of RTHK's decision to end horse-racing broadcasts and some entertainment shows after Chief Executive Donald Tsang's comments in May that he hoped Hong Kong's only publicly owned radio station would spend more time explaining government policies.

``Press freedom is the remaining pillar of our free society as we do not have an elected government. We cannot afford to lose it,'' said Audrey Eu, of the Article 45 Concern Group.

Democratic Party chairman Li Wing-tat said, ``Although the new chief executive stresses that his will be a strong and open governance style, we are beginning to see worrying signs.

``His new chief secretary, Rafael Hui, only chooses to meet and dine with media bosses behind closed doors. Never has he stood directly in front of the microphone to take questions from the media or to face us legislators.

``That does not bode well for the state of press freedom under Donald Tsang.

``In the commercial media sector, we are also seeing signs that media bosses are exercising self-discipline to appease the authorities, and that is very worrying.''

Wong was noted for his fiery criticism of authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing. Both he and Albert ``Taipan'' Cheng hosted hugely popular phone-in programs at Commercial Radio.

In summer 2004, Wong and Cheng suddenly stopped hosting their shows, claiming they had come under unspecified ``political pressure'' before September's Legislative Council elections.

Their alleged intimidation was believed to be a big factor in the huge turnout for last year's July 1 demonstration.

They were both eventually sacked.

Political commentators Allen Li and Leung Man-to also left after a brief spell as stand-ins for Wong and Cheng.

Wong left Hong Kong but later returned to mend fences with Commercial Radio. He was given a Saturday evening slot as host of a new show.

Wong said he was sacked on July 2 because he fell out with station boss Winnie Yu when the radio station failed to give him the five-day-a-week prime-time slots he said he was promised.

Commercial Radio brushed off the issue as a pure labor dispute. But former colleague Albert Cheng disagreed.

``Wong was given a time slot - 10.30pm on Saturdays - when nobody listens to radio. This is `dead time' for radio hosts,'' Cheng said.

All the ousted radio hosts will be present at Saturday's vigil.

staff.reporter@singtaonewscorp.com