Japanese musician Yoshiki finally given approval to play in Hong Kong after earlier concert was cancelled
The Thursday concert was cancelled after the organiser failed to apply for licences, prompting a furious response from fans
Thousands of Hong Kong fans of Japanese musician Yoshiki Hayashi are being given a free show on Friday 24 hours after Thursday’s performance was cancelled – because its local organiser failed to apply for relevant licences.
About 4,000 fans, who had paid between HK$580 and HK$1,280, were left in limbo on Thursday night. Some had already arrived at the venue near the airport.
To make it up to fans, the 51-year-old drummer and pianist decided to stay one more day in Hong Kong to stage a private show free of charge at the same venue on Friday. Existing ticket holders can bring one friend to the performance. They will also get a full refund for Thursday tickets.
In another twist on Friday afternoon, AsiaWorld-Expo said in a statement issued around 1pm that it had “serious reservations” about whether the free performance could go ahead as planned, because it had yet to receive the required licences from the organiser.
Licences issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department are required to host musical events in Hong Kong.
Angry fans lashed out at the organiser on social media for what they called its “stupid mistake”.