POP icon Michael Jackson's swing through Asia on his Dangerous world tour might be all wrapped up as far as the promoters go.
But, if Jacko has his way (and he usually does), Marcel Avram, the worldwide German promoter of his travelling musical circus, might find himself scurrying around to try to fit two more dates into the singer's tight schedule.
According to Keeping Posted sources, Jackson has put out feelers that he is extremely keen to bring his tortured falsetto and crotch-grabbing routine to Beijing, preferably around about the time he plays Hongkong in the latter part of August.
And the cadres - who, a few years ago, would never have entertained such a blatant intrusion of, what they used to call, ''spiritual pollution'' - are evidently dancing to the beat at the prospect.
If the dates can be fixed, it will be of mutual benefit: for Jackson, it will be a chance to break new ground; for the Chinese leadership, the perfect vehicle to enhance its ''open'' image in the buildup to September 23, when the International Olympic Committee makes its decision on the 2000 Games which Beijing covets.
Much of the behind-the-scenes activity to try to make it happen has been going on in Hongkong over the past few days, with a senior official from the Chinese Ministry of Culture visiting the territory to sound out various key people.