Jarre out but Gabriel's in to celebrate new-look stadium

INTERNATIONAL pop star Peter Gabriel will help launch the new-look Government Stadium in March, but French sight and sound specialist Jean-Michel Jarre has been told ''non, merci'' by cash-strapped organisers.

Gabriel, the British singer/songwriter and MTV favourite, has confirmed a March 14 concert as part of his world tour. Promoters expect an audience of 15,000 and tickets will go on sale next month. The show comes in the middle of a week-long gala opening for the $850 million stadium.

Two days after Gabriel's concert, British pop band Depeche Mode will also appear at the So Kon Po venue.

However, hopes that Jarre, renowned for his spectacular shows in glamorous locations around the world, would also perform appear to have been scotched. The Urban Council has reportedly been limited in its choice of acts by financial constraints, which may account for the Jarre decision.

A representative of the musician visited Hong Kong and the stadium late last year and gave it the thumbs up, only for the council to decide against booking him. Jarre is thought to be planning a visit to the territory in a last-ditch effort to help the show go ahead.

The Urban Council has yet to announce the run-down of the week's festivities, but it is understood the gala will open with a musical spectacular featuring local pop singers and movie stars.