Michael Jackson then, Taylor Swift now: why superstars keep skipping Hong Kong

There are several possible reasons for Swift’s omission of Hong Kong from her Asia tour, including the US State Department’s negative travel advisory
But the key issue is surely that 20 years after the Stones played on a purpose-built stage in Central, Hong Kong still doesn’t have a suitable arena

Mike Rowse

Published: 9:30am, 20 Nov 2023

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Twenty years ago this month, the entertainment spectacle known as HarbourFest ended on the Central waterfront. Thus began a series of life-changing events which led to me suing the chief executive and mortgaging the family home to cover legal fees.

For the benefit of those not in Hong Kong at the time, or who have forgotten some of the key aspects, a brief reminder. Our city was very hard hit by the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in early 2003 and the economy tanked.

Once the disease had been brought under control and various travel advisories withdrawn, a campaign was launched to revive the economy.

Out of a total allocation of HK$1 billion for economic relaunch publicity and activities, some HK$700 million was spent on various projects, the lion’s share on assuring foreigners it was safe to visit Hong Kong again.

What turned out to be most controversial was an idea from the American Chamber of Commerce. It would organise a series of concerts with famous artists performing on a purpose-built stage on the harbourfront. Ministers in charge of the relaunch enthusiastically supported the idea and readily agreed to the requested subsidy of HK$100 million to keep ticket prices low.

The event went ahead and, but for some minor hiccups, was a great success, with packed concerts by the Rolling Stones and Carlos Santana.

For a variety of reasons, the event became a political hot potato. It is not easy looking back to zero in on the precise cause; it could have been that the economy recovered so quickly, before the first concert was held. Anyway, as an involved party, I am not neutral enough to comment.

The Rolling Stones perform in Hong Kong, on November 7, 2003, in the first of two post-Sars concerts. Photo: Reuters

But the result was that then Amcham chairman Jim Thompson and I were both subjected to severe public criticism. I was even found guilty in an internal disciplinary process and suffered a small penalty.

Because the proceedings had been so manifestly unfair and the outcome ridiculous, I sought a judicial review of decisions made against me by the chief executive and two other senior officials. The judge found in my favour against all three and awarded costs.

To celebrate the outcome, which had the effect of clearing his name too, Thompson organised a party for the legal team and others who had helped. He distributed T-shirts to all attendees that were emblazoned across the front with the slogan “I fought the government. And the law won” and on the back, with the case number “HCAL 41/2007”. I still have mine.

By chance, one day last week I put on that shirt after a workout in the gym. Another person in the changing room pointed to the slogan and asked with a smile, “Is that still allowed?”

Well, of course. Despite the national security law and the impending Article 23 legislation, it will always be possible under the common law system for a person who has been wronged to seek redress in the courts. But his question was a reminder, if such were needed, of the sensitivity of the subject.

Pedestrians ride an escalator near a poster promoting the national security law in Wan Chai MTR station on July 2, 2020. Photo: Bloomberg

Given the way my scrambled mind works, reminiscing about pop artists leads me to the subject of Taylor Swift who, according to my children and grandchildren, is the latest sensation. She will tour Asia and Australia next year, performing in Tokyo (four nights, with a venue capacity of 55,000), Melbourne (three nights, capacity of 100,000) Sydney (four nights, capacity of 83,500) and Singapore (six nights, capacity of 55,000). She will not be coming to Hong Kong.

There are several possible explanations for this omission: at the time the tour was being planned, we were still in Covid mode and emerging more slowly than other places. There is also the US State Department’s negative travel advisory, which makes commercial insurance for such ventures more difficult and expensive.

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But the key issue is surely lack of appropriate venues. The capacity of the temporary facility constructed for HarbourFest was about the same as the 12,500-seat Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom. The Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po seats 40,000 but holding major concerts there is challenging.

The global entertainment industry will never forget that a proposed Michael Jackson concert many years ago did not proceed, amid concerns of noise disturbance to nearby residents.

The new sports park now under construction at Kai Tak will be large enough, with a stadium that seats 50,000. It will not be subject to noise restrictions, but will not be ready until later next year. By that time the Swift tour will have moved on to Europe.

The Kai Tak sports park will have a stadium that seats 50,000. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong’s Swifties – as her fans are known – will not suffer unduly as they are used to travelling outside Hong Kong to attend major events. For years we have become accustomed to going to Macau to see headline artists as the casinos have clout and deep pockets, and usually include a “no Hong Kong concert for X months” clause in the contract.

Singapore is readily accessible, and for the really determined, Japan and Australia are not out of the question. Stand by for much gnashing of teeth by the local hospitality sector.

When the dust has settled, perhaps someone could find out why, 20 years after the last notes of the HarbourFest faded, we are still waiting for a proper venue.

Mike Rowse is the CEO of Treloar Enterprises