Hong Kong Immigration Dep’t says Blur never applied for visa, after bassist says UK band were barred from performing

The Hong Kong authorities have denied that British indie band Blur were denied entry to perform in Hong Kong, despite claims on Monday by bassist Alex James.

“The Immigration Department has not received the relevant visa application. The spread of misleading information is unacceptable and has to be condemned,” a spokesperson for the Immigration Department told HKFP on Tuesday.

During a Monday BBC Radio 6 show, James said that the band had hoped to finish their live tour in Hong Kong: “[W]e were gonna finish it off in Hong Kong, which we thought would be brilliant because ‘The Magic Whip’ – the album prior to ‘Ballad of Darren’ – was all recorded in Hong Kong… but then, apparently, the Chinese government consider us to be bad actors, so we’re not allowed back in Hong Kong sadly.”

HKFP has contacted James, and the band’s agent, for comment.

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