Updated: cancelled over protests – events Hong Kong will miss out on because of unrest
- A champion drag act and another big K-pop concert are the latest event casualties resulting from the continuing protests
- Previous cancelled events include South African stand-up comedian Trevor Noah, K-pop star Daniel Kang, a Chvrches gig and a wellness summit
A champion drag act and another big K-pop concert are the two latest much-anticipated live shows that have been cancelled in Hong Kong due to the ongoing anti-government protests.
Whether it is due to “unforeseen circumstances” or “safety concerns”, a growing number of public events – from pop concerts to a large international health conference – have been cancelled due to the ongoing anti-government protests in the city.
The Civil Human Rights Front plans to lead a large-scale protest in Central on Hong Kong Island this Saturday, August 31, while another demonstration at Hong Kong International Airport, continuing the theme of “Stuck with You”, is planned for Sunday.
Here is our updated list of cancelled events that are sure to leave their fans and supporters disappointed.
Justin Honard aka Alaska Thunderf***
American drag performer Justin Honard, best known as the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ season two, was supposed to bring her show Alaska Thunderf*** 5000 to Hong Kong on Saturday, but the show has been cancelled “due to the current circumstances in Hong Kong”, according to organiser LA Comedy Live. According to HK Ticketing, tickets purchased can be fully refunded.
Got7
K-pop boy band Got7 had been scheduled to perform in Hong Kong on Saturday and Sunday as part of the group’s “Keep Spinning” world tour. Both gigs have been cancelled “due to unforeseen circumstances resulting from the latest social situation in Hong Kong that may affect fans from arriving and departing the venue, and may also lead to safety concerns of fans,” according to organiser Rolemodel Entertainment. The organiser apologised for the cancellation and said a new schedule for the band will be released very soon.
Previously reported:
Trevor Noah
The popular South African host of The Daily Show called off his highly anticipated stand-up comedy performance in the city scheduled for August 21, according to website Slate.
Daniel Kang
Chvrches
Street Fighter V Tournament
Japanese video game developer Capcom removed the Hong Kong stop from its Pro Tour Street Fighter V tournament due to “ongoing civic unrest”. The event was part of the Esports Festival held at the end of August. “Capcom takes the safety of our players and community very seriously,” the organisers wrote in a press release.
Global Wellness Summit
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), an annual international gathering focusing on the global wellness economy, announced that its 13th conference would be moved from Hong Kong to Singapore and held on the same dates: October 15 to 17. Susie Ellis, chairman and CEO of GWS, revealed the decision was made because “the unrest in Hong Kong has increased”, as reported at the time by Singapore’s The Straits Times. The chairman told the Post they hope they can bring the summit back to Hong Kong one day.
Stanley Lai Sheng-chuan
Renowned Taiwanese theatre director Stanley Lai Sheng-chuan dropped his trip to Hong Kong. The symposium “Chinese Theatre on the Global Stage” was scheduled at the Open University of Hong Kong on August 17. His team was concerned over the safety of speakers, guests and attendees, pointing to the large number of protesters at the airport that week. “It has become impossible to predict how things might turn out towards the end of the week,” said a representative at the time.
