SOME of Hongkong's biggest singing stars are doing their part to promote the mainland music industry, having already performed in a charity concert in Beijing. Twenty-five winners of last year's Commercial Radio Ultimate Songs Chart Award Presentation took part in The Ultimate Songs Chart Show 92 at the Beijing Workers' Stadium. All 12,000 tickets to the show, priced from 40 renminbi to 160 renminbi (about HK$50 to HK$215), sold out within hours and there were reports tickets were being resold for up to 300 renminbi, so popular was the performance. Hosted by Commercial Radio deejays Gary Ngan Luen-mo and Joseph Chan Fai-hung, the concert featured Jacky Cheung Hok-yau, Andy Lau Tak-wah, Leon Lai Ming, Sandy Lam Yik-lin, Sally Yeh, Shirley Kwan Suk-yee, Grasshopper, Beyond, Taichi, Faye Wong Ching-man, Tats Lau and Dream, Dicky Cheung Wai-kin, Lui Fong and Veronica Yip Yuk-hing. According to Commercial Radio, profits from the show will go to a fund managed by the radio station and the co-organiser, the Chun Yang Television Station, and will be used in promoting mainland music. ''We do not have much experience in holding a concert overseas, but we knew that it would be a good opportunity for us to raise more money so that we could give some financial support to those young and talented musicians in China,'' said Ms Pearl Wong, Director of External Affairs at Commercial Radio. ''It was an exciting and precious experience for all of us and I believe that we could be better in the future''. Already popular on the mainland, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Grasshopper stole the show. Cheung's performance of Love You Everyday and Lau's performance of The Time When We Were Together were especially welcomed as the songs are hits in China. But the climax came when Grasshopper gave their brilliant dancing and singing performance, bringing demands of an encore from the captivated crowd. Though not all of the artists were familiar to the Beijing audience, or as well-received, followers of the big names were more than pleased. About a hundred passionate fans waited for their idols in below freezing temperatures outside the stadium afterthe show. For those unable to make the show, the mainland television station will broadcast the concert during the Lunar New Year. Commercial Radio has not yet decided whether it will air the concert locally.
