The organiser of the One Love Asia Festival has revealed it will bear up to HK$15 million (US$1.9 million) in additional costs, alongside refund requests from 30 per cent of ticket holders following a rescheduling of the event over weather concerns in Hong Kong.
In a response to questions from the Post, Singapore-based IMC Live Global (IMC) also reiterated that the weather was the only reason for the delay after a lawmaker called the explanation “unacceptable”.
“IMC is a foreign company with limited resources in Hong Kong to be able to respond adequately in the event of adverse weather conditions for an outdoor venue,” the organiser said.
“These changes will cost IMC an additional HK$12-15 million which we decided to bear in order that our patrons are safe and the event can proceed regardless of the weather.”
IMC added that 30 per cent of ticket holders had requested a refund, while an additional 10 per cent had sought to exchange their tickets for another day.
Tickets for the show ranged from HK$980 for a single-day general admission ticket to HK$2,580 for a three-day premium one.
On Monday, IMC announced that the three-day music festival would be pushed back to June 29 from June 21, and that the venue would be changed from the Central Harbourfront Event Space to AsiaWorld-Expo.
The organiser cited the poor weather for the changes while highlighting that other major outdoor music events had been adversely affected by rainy conditions in the past month.
The notice came two days after Tropical Storm Maliksi caused delays and queue chaos for the Waterbomb Hong Kong music festival, which was held at the outdoor AXA x Wonderland venue at the West Kowloon Cultural District.
But the abrupt change in date led to some overseas artists pulling out, including Singaporean singer-songwriter Stefanie Sun as well as Lala Hsu and rock band Power Station, both from Taiwan.
It also sparked swift negative reactions online, with many overseas fans who were planning to attend expressing dismay that they could not shift flight and hotel bookings.
Legislator Vincent Cheng Wing-shun weighed in, saying that blaming poor weather was unacceptable and that IMC should provide partial compensation to those outside Hong Kong who had booked flights and hotels.
The festival was making its debut in the city, and was featured on the Tourism Board’s website.
IMC told the Post that ticket holders outside Hong Kong who were unable to get refunds for their flights and hotels could reach out directly, and the firm would “review each case to arrive at fair outcomes”.
It added that “no efforts were spared” to maintain the original line-up and dates, but that it was limited by venue and artist availability.
IMC said it had booked three halls at AsiaWorld-Expo to meet the 9,000 capacity it catered for the Central Harbourfront Venue location.
Hong Kong artists Joey Yung, Gareth.T and Taiwanese group Bestards were announced as replacements for the trio that cancelled.
