Page 40 of 132
89
88
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHAN KWOK-MING, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENTERTAINMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question is in three parts which deals with the management of the UC venues in particular in relation to the management, security and ticketing arrangements.
On the question of general control and management of events, the department, as venue managers on behalf of the Council, is responsible for the proper management, supervision and control of all events including crowd control and public security. Accordingly, great importance is attached to public safety when considering hirers' requests, but this has to be balanced against the need for presenters to make their events attractive and entertaining to the public. So we must strike a balance here. The department has prevented performers at the Hong Kong Coliseum from walking amongst the audience and from the throwing of souvenirs which could encourage members of the audience to leave their seats. Furthermore, a 6-month trial scheme will be conducted to determine how illumination of the staircases at the Coliseum might be further enhanced.
As regards fake tickets, this is obviously of great concern to both the Council and the Department. While there is no foolproof way of preventing criminal activity such as the production of forged tickets, the Entertainment Select Committee has agreed that some short and long term measures should be adopted to minimize the opportunity for such fraud. On the 6th September the Committee discussed in detail the matters concerned and we have reported to the Standing Committee on the 7th. In the short term and to deal specifically with tickets patrons holding forged tickets for the Jacky Cheung concert, the following measures have been taken:
(a) the setting up of an URBTIX hotline and verification service patrons who suspect that they have purchased forged tickets can call the hotline or take their tickets to four URBTIX outlets for verification-two on each side of the harbour i.e. on Hong Kong side, the City Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Stadium; on the Kowloon side, the Hong Kong Coliseum and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. In addition, the police have also set up a hotline;
(b) close liaison with the Police to gauge the extent of the problem and to seek their assistance in potential crowd control problems throughout the 'Jacky Cheung' concert period. The Department will naturally also be reinforcing its admission checking at the gates during the period; and (c) further announcements to the public that holders of fake tickets will not be allowed entry to the concert. This was already publicized by the Police in their press conference on 25th August when the point was also made that possession of forged tickets is a criminal offence. This message will be reinforced by publicity covering radio, TV and the press.
For the longer term the following measures have been taken:
(a) upgrading the security coding on future URBTIX tickets to reduce the possibility of duplication;
(b) enhancing publicity through the media to appeal to and remind the public to purchase tickets through proper URBTIX outlets only. Proposals will be simultaneously considered to improve the accessibility of URBTIX and ticket reservation services to the general public by such measures as expanding the network of URBTIX outlets and further promotion of the Council's Registered Patron scheme;
(c) examining the feasibility of introducing higher quality tickets designed specifically for different events, and the cost implications of using such tickets; and
(d) reviewing the percentage of consigned tickets to the organisers as an additional security measure.
With regard to public liability insurance, the current insurance only relates to claims for injury or death, or loss and damage to property, but that does not cover compensation to third parties who suffer loss as a result of criminal activities. And indeed there is no justification for the Council to compensate holders of forged tickets.
Finally, on the question of consignment tickets, under the present Terms and Conditions of Hire, a presenter is permitted to consign up to 49% of available tickets. In recent years, presenters have from time to time requested a greater percentage on some ticket price levels and their requests have been considered by the Entertainment Select Committee on a case by case basis. Whilst this has not been a problem with low-key events, the Entertainment Select Committee decided on the 6th September that for popular large-scale concerts in future, the ceiling of 49% for all tickets price categories should be maintained at present. This aspect will be reviewed again after the Information and Technology Sub-Committee's consideration of the feasibility of up-grading the URBTIX system having regard also to the financial risks and marketing needs of the presenter.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):—I have a question on the consignment tickets. Under what circumstances did we impose such conditions on the hirer? Has the Committee considered the 49% is a reasonable ceiling? In addition to the existence of fake tickets, the chaos created by people queuing for tickets are also of great concern to the public. How would the Committee think of other measures to control the queuing situation so that it will not get out of hand? In addition to URBTIX outlets we also hire other venues for ticket sales, how can we maintain the order there?
MR. CHAN KWOK-MING (in Cantonese):—Thank you for Mr. Ma's questions. On the question of the ceiling of consignment tickets, when presenters hire a venue from us, they have to bear a certain degree of financial risk. So if all the tickets cannot be sold out, we will be held responsible. I think 49% is a reasonable ceiling. Regarding the queuing problem, the previous situation was quite exceptional. The presenters have asked us to put on sale the tickets for all 25 performances. But at present the URBTIX outlets can only handle a certain
Page 40 of 132
Page 40Page 41
Page 41 of 132
Page 40 of 132
Page 40 of 132
89
88
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHAN KWOK-MING, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENTERTAINMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question is in three parts which deals. with the management of the UC venues in particular in relation to the management, security and ticketing arrangements.
On the question of general control and management of events, the department, as venue managers on behalf of the Council, is responsible for the proper management, supervision and control of all events including crowd control and public security. Accordingly, great importance is attached to public safety when considering hirers' requests, but this has to be balanced against the need for presenters to make their events attractive and entertaining to the public. So we must strike a balance here. The department has prevented performers at the Hong Kong Coliseum from walking amongst the audience and from the throwing of souvenirs which could encourage members of the audience to leave their seats. Furthermore, a 6-month trial scheme will be conducted to determine how illumination of the staircases at the Coliseum might be further enhanced.
As regards fake tickets, this is obviously of great concern to both the Council and the Department. While there is no foolproof way of preventing criminal activity such as the production of forged tickets, the Entertainment Select Committee has agreed that some short and long term measures should be adopted to minimize the opportunity for such fraud. On the 6th September the Committee discussed in detail the matters concerned and we have reported to the Standing Committee on the 7th. In the short term and to deal specifically with tickets patrons holding forged tickets for the Jacky Cheung concert, the following measures have been taken:
(a) the setting up of an URBTIX hotline and verification service patrons who suspect that they have purchased forged tickets can call the hotline or take their tickets to four URBTIX outlets for verification-two on each side of the harbour i.e. on Hong Kong side, the City Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Stadium; on the Kowloon side, the Hong Kong Coliseum and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. In addition, the police have also set up a hotline;
(b) close liaison with the Police to gauge the extent of the problem and to seek their assistance in potential crown control problems throughout the 'Jacky Cheung' concert period. The Department will naturally also be reinforcing its admission checking at the gates during the period; and (c) further announcements to the public that holders of fake tickets will not be allowed entry to the concert. This was already publicized by the Police in their press conference on 25th August when the point was also made that possession of forged tickets is a criminal offence. This message will be reinforced by publicity covering radio, TV and the press.
For the longer term the following measures have been taken:
(a) upgrading the security coding on future URBTIX tickets to reduce the
possibility of duplication;
Page 40 of 132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(b) enhancing publicity through the media to appeal to and remind the public to purchase tickets through proper URBTIX outlets only. Proposals will be simultaneously considered to improve the accessibility of URBTIX and ticket reservation services to the general public by such measures as expanding the network of URBTIX outlets and further promotion of the Council's Registered Patron scheme;
(c) examining the feasibility of introducing higher quality tickets designed specifically for different events, and the cost implications of using such tickets; and
(d) reviewing the percentage of consigned tickets to the organisers as an
additional security measure.
With regard to public liability insurance, the current insurance only relates to claims for injury or death, or loss and damage to property, but that does not cover compensation to third parties who suffer loss as a result of criminal activities. And indeed there is no justification for the Council to compensate holders of forged tickets.
Finally, on the question of consignment tickets, under the present Terms and Conditions of Hire, a presenter is permitted to consign up to 49% of available tickets. In recent years, presenters have from time to time requested a greater percentage on some ticket price levels and their requests have been considered by the Entertainment Select Committee on a case by case basis. Whilst this has not been a problem with low-key events, the Entertainment Select Committee decided on the 6th September that for popular large-scale concerts in future, the ceiling of 49% for all tickets price categories should be maintained at present. This aspect will be reviewed again after the Information and Technology Sub-Committee's consideration of the feasibility of up-grading the URBTIX system having regard also to the financial risks and marketing needs of the presenter.
MR. MA LEE-Wo (in Cantonese):—I have a question on the consignment tickets. Under what circumstances did we impose such conditions on the hirer? Has the Committee considered the 49% is a reasonable ceiling? In addition to the existence of fake tickets, the chaos created by people queuing for tickets are also of great concern to the public. How would the Committee think of other measures to control the queuing situation so that it will not get out of hand? In addition to URBTIX outlets we also hire other venues for ticket sales, how can we maintain the order there?
MR. CHAN KWOK-MING (in Cantonese):—Thank you for Mr. Ma's questions. On the question of the ceiling of consignment tickets, when presenters hire a venue from us, they have to bear a certain degree of financial risk. So if all the tickets cannot be sold out, we will be held responsible. I think 49% is a reasonable ceiling. Regarding the queuing problem, the previous situation was quite exceptional. The presenters have asked us to put on sale the tickets for all 25 performances. But at present the URBTIX outlets can only handle a certain
Page 40 of 132
Page 40Page 41
Page 41 of 132
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.