Safety in the spotlight in Hong Kong after string of Mirror boy ...

Performers in the 12-member Cantopop band had suffered falls, injuries and near-misses since the start of a series of scheduled concerts at the ... 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TwodancersreceivemedicaltreatmentataconcertofCantopopboybandMirror,inHongKong,afteramassivevideoscreensuspendedabovethestagefellontoperformersbelowonThursday,Jul28,2022.(Photo:AP/Vivian) JustinOng @justinongS JustinOng 29Jul202201:02PM (Updated:29Jul202208:53PM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn SINGAPORE:AspateofstageincidentsinvolvingHongKong’shugelypopularboybandMirrorhaspromptedauthoritiestoorderanofficialinquiry,amid debateonwhethershoddyconcertproductionqualityorinsufficientrehearsaltimeistoblame. Performersinthe12-memberCantopopbandhadsufferedfalls,injuriesandnear-missessincethestartofaseriesofscheduledconcertsatthebeginningofthisweek. ThemostseriousincidentoccurredonThursdayevening(Jul28)afteramassivevideoscreensuspendedabovethestagefellontwodancers,leavingoneinaseriouscondition. ConcertorganiserMakerVille,whichisownedbyHongKongtycoonRichardLi’stelecomgiantPCCW,toldlocalmediaearlyFridaymorningthatthedancer,whogoesbyMo,remainsinintensivecare. AmedicalsourcetoldSouthChinaMorningPostthattheimpactdislocatedthethirdandfourthsectionofthedancer'scervicalvertebrae,leavinghimunabletomovehislimbs.Hisheadandlungswerealsoinjured. Theotherdancersustainedscratchesandsprainedmusclesandwasdischargedafterobservation,saidMakerVilleCEOLoTing-fai. Threeaudiencememberswerealsotakentohospitalwithonefeelingunwellandtheothertwoinshock,butnonerequiredtreatment,theAssociatedPressreported. Noneofthe12membersofMirrorwashurt. AHongKongofficialtoldreportersonFridaythat"frominitialobservation,awirefracturedandledtothefallofthescreenandcausedthedancerstobeinjured". ExpertstoldtheSouthChinaMorningPostthatsuchaccidentswererareattheconcertvenue–theHongKongColiseum–althoughonestructuralengineerquestionedifstageequipmenthadbeenproperlyinstalled,andspeculatedthatalocktofastenthewiringforsuchgiantvideopanelscouldhavefailed. Onsocialmedia,fanshavequestionedwhethertheproductioncompanieswereatfault,withsomecommenterspostingunverifiedclaimsofthefirmsbeinglinkedwiththeChinesegovernment. Otherssharedthevideowitha#MadeInChinahashtag,sayingtheincidentwasabyproductofChina’suncompromisingruleoverHongKong. TheArtDesign&ProductionfirmclarifiedonFacebookthatwhileitwasresponsibleforpropsandstagesurfacesattheconcert,ithadnoparttoplayintheengineeringoroperationsthatledtothescreenfalling. “SORRYFORMAKINGEVERYONEWORRY” InanincidentonTuesday,MirrormemberFrankieChanlosthisfootingandfellaboutametreofftheedgeofthestagewhilegivingaspeech.Helaterpostedonsocialmedia,saying:"Sorryformakingeveryoneworry…Onlysomebruises.I'maluckyman."  Thenightbefore,localmediareportedthatbandmemberAnsonKongnearlyfelloffarisingplatformhewasdancingon,addingthatthestructureandotherstagefeatureswereshakingandwobblingundertheweightofperformers. FansalsofilmedotherMirrormembersappearingtomissdancestepswhileondimlylitandfencelessstructures,somesuspendedinmid-air. AnonlinepetitionurgingconcertorganiserstobetterensuresafetywaslaunchedonTuesdaynight,garneringmorethan13,000signaturessince. TheHongKonggovernmentalsocontactedtheorganisersthatsamenighttodemandimprovements,resultingin“dangerousmoves”beingcancelledandfencesinstalledatthenextperformanceonWednesday,accordingtolocalmedia. Thursday’sincident–wheretheaudiencecanbeheardscreaminginhorrorindistressingfootagebeingcirculatedonline–wasthefinalstrawfortheHongKonggovernment,whichhashaltedtheMirrorconcertseriesuntilthestageproductioncanbeprovensafe.  HongKongfilmstalwartLouisKoo,whoispresidentofthecity’sperformingartistesguild,onFridaymorningcalledforpeopletostoprepostingtheaccidentclips. Thekeythingistoreviewthesafetyissuestoavoidrepeatingthesamemistakes,hesaidonsocialmedia. FellowentertainerAaronKwokmeanwhilespokeoutagainstreportsthatMirrorperformershadonlyrehearsedfortwodaysbeforethestartoftheconcertseriesonMonday. Kwoksaidheneededatleastthreetofourdaystorehearseatvenues,andbeforethat,hewouldalsopractiseinadifferentvenuewithareplicastage,accordingtoVarietymagazine. WiththeHongKongTheatreArtsPractitionersUnionandseveralcitylawmakerscallingforaprobe,HongKongchiefexecutiveJohnLeeissuedastatementearlyonFridayorderingathoroughinvestigationandreviewofsafetyrequirementsatsimilarevents. Thiswastoensurethesafetyofperformers,crewandthepublic,saidMrLee,adding:“Iexpresssympathytothosewhowereinjuredandhopethattheywillrecoversoon.”  Alsoread: HongKong’sliterarysceneatcrossroadsamidtighteningcontrols|Video Surpriseanddelight:KeepingtheartsflourishinginHongKong Source:CNA/Agencies/jo(gs) RelatedTopics HongKong Entertainment Advertisement Alsoworthreading Contentisloading... Advertisement Expandtoreadthefullstory Thisbrowserisnolongersupported Weknowit'sahassletoswitchbrowsersbutwewantyourexperiencewithCNAtobefast,secureandthebestitcanpossiblybe. Tocontinue,upgradetoasupportedbrowseror,forthefinestexperience,downloadthemobileapp. Upgradedbutstillhavingissues?Contactus