With the arrival of Typhoon Wipha, the announcement that the South Korean boy band RIIZE will proceed with their Hong Kong concert has ignited a firestorm of concern regarding fan safety and transportation.
Scheduled to perform at AsiaWorld-Expo on Saturday(Jul 19) and Sunday(Jul 20), the band had initially planned to start the concert at 6 pm.
However, due to the adverse weather conditions, event organiser iME Hong Kong announced on Sunday afternoon that the cancellation of the Sound Check session, adding that refund policies will be announced shortly.
Different from the prior announcement, the entry time for fans has been rescheduled to 9 pm, with updated entry details to be provided separately.
The organiser has noted that the show will be cancelled if the typhoon Signal No.10 or No.8 remains in effect by 6.30pm.
The announcement has led to a flood of criticism from fans, many of whom have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction, with many criticising the organiser for overlooking the safety of both fans and staff, describing the arrangements "extremely unreasonable."
Adding to the concerns, the Observatory has predicted that the No. 10 signal will remain in effect until at least 3 pm, making it unlikely for conditions to improve enough for fans to safely attend the show.
Fans from Macau have also raised alarms, as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is currently closed and ferry services to Hong Kong have been suspended.
“Not all the fans are in Hong Kong. What about those in Macau, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen?” one fan questioned, emphasising the potential risks involved in the current arrangements.
In light of the concerns, many fans are calling for the organiser to consider offering refunds or rescheduling the event to prioritise safety.
