Huang Xizhao
Huang Shih‑chiu (Steve Huang; born 1926‑11‑25,[1] died 2005‑03‑08) was a veteran Hong Kong media executive. After Television Broadcasts Limited was launched in 1967, he served as its first Executive Manager. From 1975‑02 to 1981‑06‑20 he was Executive Director and General Manager of Rediffusion Television.
Early life
Huang was born in Hong Kong on 1926‑11‑25. He attended St. John’s School in Shanghai and then St. John’s University (Shanghai), where he majored in physics and graduated in 1947.[2] In 1955 he went to the United States to study communications at the University of California, Berkeley, served as president of the Chinese Students Association, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957.
Media career
After graduation Huang worked in New York as assistant editor for the Southeast Asia desk at The New York Times until 1958. He then joined the Oakland Tribune as a reporter while earning a Master of Arts in American history at San Jose State College, graduating in 1960.
In 1961 he returned to Hong Kong as a news officer in the Government Information Services and in 1962 became city news editor at the English Tiger Standard. After the Chinese University of Hong Kong opened in 1963, he was appointed Assistant Registrar, overseeing student welfare, publications, external affairs, and press releases. He helped establish the university’s journalism department and recruited future television journalists.[3]
In 1967, when Hong Kong’s first free‑to‑air station Television Broadcasts Limited began broadcasting, Huang was hired as Executive Manager, making him one of the station’s founding executives. He left in 1968 to become the inaugural Fund‑Raising Campaign Director of The Community Chest of Hong Kong, laying the groundwork for its early operations. He left that post in 1972 and moved into real estate, serving as Operations Director of David C. Chan & Co.
Rediffusion Television
In December 1974 Rediffusion Television announced Huang’s appointment as General Manager, and he assumed the role in February 1975, becoming the first Chinese executive to lead the station. Under his leadership, he revamped programming and hired young producers to compete directly with Television Broadcasts Limited. His tenure saw several hits, including strategic scheduling moves that outperformed rival dramas in key time slots.
In 1981, when Australian investors expressed interest in Rediffusion, internal uncertainty led Huang to resign on 1981‑06‑20. The station was acquired by Far East Consortium in September 1982, renamed Asia Television, and Rediffusion Television ceased to exist.
Later life
After leaving Rediffusion, Huang worked in real estate development in Singapore. He died in Hong Kong on 2005‑03‑08 at age 78.
Personal life
Huang met Pan Wai‑sin at Berkeley; they married in the United States in 1957. Pan later taught in the Department of Zoology at the University of Hong Kong. They had three children, including son Wong Ngok‑wing, who served as CEO of Tse Sui Luen Jewellery and appeared on the RTHK program Rich Man Poor Man.
Huang was a member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Hong Kong Woodball Association, the Hong Kong Golf Club, the Hong Kong Club, and the Kowloon Tong Club.