Fans of Hong Kong’s most popular boy band will have to register for tickets using their real names in an attempt to foil touts, after scalpers demanded up to HK$400,000 a seat for Mirror’s upcoming concerts.
Mirror announced on Facebook that all tickets sold via the Urbtix website would require real-name registration. The group will perform 12 shows in total between July 25 and August 6 and will also hold two extra concerts for its official fan club, Miro, on August 5 and 6.
“Thank you all for accompanying Mirror to this day. Even in the face of multiple challenges, we will definitely do our best, and hope that more Mirror fans can come and support Mirror,” the Facebook post on Wednesday said.
“You all are very enthusiastic towards the concert, additionally [we] know that a lot of fans had a hard time rushing around to buy tickets in order to support Mirror,” the post read.
The government’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) said it had taken the initiative to discuss with the concert organiser ways “to combat ticket scalping.”
“The Department welcomes the organiser’s positive response on adopting real-name registration for ticket sales to the public through Urbtix so as to reduce the chance of ticket scalping,” it said in a statement.
“The LCSD will render all practicable assistance on ticket sales and admission arrangements to the organiser, and also calls on ticket holders to arrive early at the venue, the Hong Kong Coliseum.”
‘Experimental’
According to Vincent Cheng, a pro-Beijing lawmaker from the DAB, Mirror’s concert will be the first show to use real-name registration at the Hong Kong Coliseum, seen by many as the city’s most prestigious venue.
Cheng told RTHK on Thursday the “one-off” measure was an experiment. “Also we have to see that how many tickets will be sold using real-name registration, and how many tickets will be sold through internal subscription. That is a key.”
In previous shows with real-name registration ticket sales, around 30 per cent were available for public purchase while the remainder were sold privately by the event organiser or sponsors.
“We hope that, if possible, the organiser will put out more tickets for public purchase under real-name registration so that more people can watch the show,” said Cheng.
Support HKFP | Code of Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report
LATEST FROM HKFP
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit, Hong Kong Free Press is #PressingOn with impartial, award-winning, frontline coverage.
