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The Standard [Hong Kong]
February 11, 2003
LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER IN THE SAR
BY Paris Lord
Hong Kong will be the centre of the entertainment and security universes late next month.
The Rolling Stones will hold concerts at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) on March 28 and 29.
Meanwhile, over at the Hong Kong Stadium, the Credit Suisse-First Boston Rugby Sevens runs from March 28 to 30. HKCEC sales manager Karen Kwan yesterday confirmed to The Standard that Hall Three was booked on March 28 and 29 evenings.
Is it for Rolling Stones concerts? I can't confirm or deny if that's the case. You will have to wait for the official announcement,'' Kwan said.
A spokeswoman for Live Ltd, believed to be the promoters, said they would not make any official announcements on the Stones' concerts at the moment. Extra security is expected at both Stones' concerts and Sevens tournament to allay fears in the wake of the Bali bombings last October.
Sevens tournament organisers last month said visible and behind-the-scenes security would be in place at the 40,000-seat stadium.
Peter Burbidge King, the tournament director, told reporters: We will be tightening up a little bit more on vehicular entrance, searching and locking of gates. Any terrorist attack is a worry for any large-event organisers but Hong Kong takes these matters extremely seriously. We're in the hands of the Hong Kong police force and the security officials in the stadium.'' The Rolling Stones skipped the SAR during their previous world tours in the early and late 1990s for fears of noise complaints from residents. Several promoters have said because the Hong Kong Stadium cannot be used for their planned concerts, Hong Kong is considered a laughing stock on the international-events circuit. Among measures government officials suggested to keep concert noise under the 65-70 decibel limit at the stadium was for applauding spectators to wear white cotton gloves.
For two proposed shows by Elton John, marking the 1997 handover, concert-goers would have been made to wear headphones and listen to a live radio broadcast.
The British performer pulled the plug on hearing the idea.
Other international stars to cancel events at the stadium include Sting, David Bowie and Michael Jackson, who was asked to start his 1997 world tour in the SAR.
But the HKCEC is not without its critics. The Standard was told jazz singer Diana Krall's show there last year was like being in an airport hangar''. A concert by violinist Vanessa-Mae last September was spoiled by problems with the sound system, local media reported. After their Hong Kong tour, the Rolling Stones are expected to play two concerts in the mainland in April after gaining the approval of the country's culture ministry.
Some of the legal procedures still need to be sorted out but the Rolling Stones are coming to China,'' a spokesman for promoters Beijing Time New Century Entertainment said. The Beijing Daily Star newspaper said the ageing rock legends would perform in Shanghai on April 1 and Beijing on April 4 as part of their Forty Licks'' tour.
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