Clinton puts off $10,000-a-head dinner date
Former US president Bill Clinton has postponed a visit to Hong Kong just eight days before he was scheduled to speak at a fund-raising dinner at which guests would have paid at least $10,000 a head.
The black-tie event - at which a table for 12 was going for between $120,000 and $200,000 - was to assist the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong.
The managing director of the Australasian Entertainment Company, Dale Rennie, said Mr Clinton's staff contacted it on Tuesday night, asking for the dinner to be rescheduled for late February or early March. No reason was given. 'In this business, it happens,' Mr Rennie said.
Tickets for 'An Evening with President Clinton' next Wednesday had been selling well and Mr Rennie said sales were not behind the postponement.
Those who bought tickets can get a refund or hold on to them for the rescheduled event, which Mr Rennie predicted would be sold out.
The evening, at the Shangri-La Hotel, was also to have included a charity auction, with several million dollars expected to go to the environmental organisation.
Agents offering the services of Mr Clinton - who reportedly receives US$100,000 (HK$780,000) a speech - first contacted the company only about a month ago, Mr Rennie said.
