MORE than 50 Russian acrobats, trapeze artists and jugglers are heading home after the promoters of their circus were forced to cancel at the last minute.
The show had been scheduled to begin tomorrow and run to July 31, but was cancelled because of delays in securing entry permits for performing animals.
William Wong Hing, shows manager for promoter Capital Artists Limited, promised to reimburse $1.5 million in ticket sales.
More than 50 Russian performers arrived last week without their animals to prepare for the shows. Yesterday they prepared to leave, spending the day sight-seeing or at their hotels.
Mr Wong has threatened a $4 million lawsuit against the Urban Council for losses he says his company incurred due to the cancellation.
Because of delays by the Urban Council in approving the circus, the Agriculture and Fisheries Department was not able to process the applications in time for the five bears, 23 dogs, one kangaroo, one puma, one python and one monkey to be allowed into the territory.
''It's just ridiculous. We are more than mad about this . . . and our lawyers are checking to see if we have a case,'' Mr Wong said.