- From South African stand-up comedian Trevor Noah to K-pop star Daniel Kang, performers are postponing and cancelling events in Hong Kong for safety reasons
- A Chvrches gig, a Street Fighter tournament and a wellness summit, which has moved to Singapore, are among the events Hong Kong will miss out on
Whether it is due to "unforeseen circumstances" or "safety concerns", a series of public events " from pop concerts to an big international health conference " have been cancelled due to the ongoing anti-government protests in the city. Here are six that are likely to leave fans and supporters disappointed.
Trevor Noah
The popular South African host of The Daily Show has called off his highly anticipated stand-up comedy performance in the city on August 21, according to website Slate.
The comedian was originally scheduled to appear at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which is close to a number of government office buildings as well as the Legislative Council complex.
Daniel Kang
K-pop star Daniel Kang has postponed his "Color On Me in Hong Kong" fan meeting at the AsiaWorld-Expo on Sunday, August 18, the same day that Civil Human Rights Front has planned a march on Hong Kong Island.
Chvrches
Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches cancelled their show, also at the AsiaWorld-Expo, on August 20. The venue is next to the city's international airport, which was forced by anti-government protesters to suspend operations on two days this week.
Street Fighter V Tournament
Japanese video game developer Capcom has 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 scheduled to be held in the city later this month. "Capcom takes the safety of our players and community very seriously," the organisers wrote in a press release earlier this week.
Global Wellness Summit
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), an annual international gathering focusing on the global wellness economy, announced on Thursday that its 13th conference would be moved from Hong Kong to Singapore and held on the same dates: October 15 to 17, 2019. Susie Ellis, chairman and CEO of GWS, revealed the decision was made because "the unrest in Hong Kong has increased", as reported 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 has 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 is concerned over the safety of speakers, guests and attendees, pointing to the large number of protesters at the airport this week. "It has become impossible to predict how things might turn out towards the end of the week," said a representative.
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