New Music Venue Aims to Boost Hong Kong’s Live Entertainment Scene
Hong Kong music enthusiasts may soon have a new venue to look forward to. US-based entertainment giant Live Nation, known for bringing major acts like Coldplay to the city, has announced plans to open a state-of-the-art live entertainment space at The Whampoa in Kowloon. Named TIDES, the venue will occupy the first and underground first floors of the ship-shaped building and is expected to host up to 1,500 people per event.
Live Nation claims that TIDES will be the only mid-sized venue in Hong Kong with fully integrated production capabilities and touring-grade infrastructure. The venue is set to open in the fourth quarter of this year, with a goal of hosting 250 events annually. This development could help address the city's growing shortage of small and mid-sized performance spaces, which has been a concern for local promoters and independent gig organizers.
However, some residents have expressed concerns about potential noise and crowds in the otherwise quiet neighborhood. The move aligns with the government’s efforts to grow Hong Kong’s “concert economy.” Culture minister Rosanna Law highlighted that large-scale pop concerts attracted 4.3 million spectators between 2023 and 2024, generating HK$3.7 billion in spending and contributing HK$2.2 billion to the economy.
The opening of TIDES comes at a time when the loss of venues like Music Zone at KITEC has left many independent organizers struggling to find affordable spaces. Local promoter Leung of Neonlit noted that some may now focus on stadium-filling acts, while those specializing in mid-sized gigs could face a “hiatus” without suitable venues.
Small livehouses have long faced challenges in Hong Kong. Hidden Agenda, a popular indie spot, was raided by authorities in 2017 before rebranding as This Town Needs, which closed in 2020. Despite these challenges, demand for small to mid-sized venues has persisted, especially with more overseas acts returning post-pandemic.
Academic Integrity Controversy Over Award-Winning Student Project
An academic integrity controversy has sparked debate after a secondary school student, Clarisse Poon, was accused of academic dishonesty over her award-winning AI-powered project, MediSafe. The app, designed to detect prescription errors, drew criticism for possible privacy violations after Poon used data from at least 100 patients for testing.
The allegations first surfaced in June via a LinkedIn post by Hailey Cheng, who did not name Poon but later reiterated her claims on Threads. Public attention turned to Poon’s family background, with some questioning whether her father, renowned liver disease specialist Ronnie Poon, had provided patient data for the project. He denied this, stating the app used only simulated patient data.
The controversy intensified as calls for a government investigation grew, given that MediSafe won multiple awards at the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2024. Organizers said they were still gathering information and following up on the case. Meanwhile, the US company involved, AI Health Studio, broke its silence, stating that the project was commissioned by Poon’s mother and that their team built the software “from scratch.”
The situation may escalate further as Cheng reported meeting with lawmakers to discuss the incident and urged the public to focus on the award organizer’s response rather than the family’s personal background.
Press Freedom Group Faces Backlash Over Jimmy Lai Case
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) came under fire from Beijing-backed media this week after calling for the release of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, whose trial was set to resume. RSF’s Director of Advocacy and Assistance, Antoine Bernard, stated that Lai had faced “inhumane conditions” in detention, reflecting authorities’ efforts to “silence” a prominent press freedom advocate.
The Hong Kong government condemned the criticism as “slanderous,” accusing external forces and “anti-China media” of distorting the truth and discrediting the judiciary. State-backed outlets Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po attacked RSF, calling it a “vanguard of anti-China forces” and alleging it serves as a tool of the US, citing previous funding from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
RSF responded by emphasizing its commitment to press freedom and accused Beijing-backed media of trying to distract the public from Lai’s “arbitrary detention.” Bernard stressed that the issue is not about being “pro” or “anti” China, but about supporting free, pluralistic, and independent media.
Political Gossip Circulates Amid LegCo Summer Break
Hong Kong’s “patriots-only” legislature may be on summer break, but political chatter heated up this week after a photo of an opened condom packet found in an accessible toilet inside the Legislative Council complex began circulating among lawmakers.
Local media reported the torn packet was discovered in the toilet bowl of a 14th-floor restroom, which houses offices of the self-styled “C15+” group. The lawmakers asked the LegCo Secretariat to check surveillance footage, but it showed no more than one person using the restroom at a time. Only a lawmaker’s assistant had entered during the relevant period and later received a “warm reminder.”
The Secretariat told Ming Pao there was no suspicious activity and the case was closed, though some lawmakers reportedly suspect more political gossip could surface ahead of December’s “all-patriots” legislative election.
Resumption of Jimmy Lai’s Trial Postponed
After a five-month pause, Jimmy Lai’s closely watched national security trial was set to resume this week with closing arguments from both the prosecution and defense. However, Thursday’s session was called off due to a black rainstorm warning, and Friday’s hearing was postponed again after his lawyer said the 77-year-old media tycoon was experiencing a heart-related medical issue.
“Time is running out,” Lai’s son, Sebastien, told Nikkei Asia, adding that “something bad could happen at any time” because of his father’s age. Lai, the founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily, has been behind bars since December 2020. His trial – focused on charges of foreign collusion and sedition – began in December 2023 and has now run for over 140 days, making it the longest national security case in Hong Kong so far.
Other Notable News
- Reuters: Exclusive: Thai gallery removes China-focused artworks after ‘pressure’ from Beijing.
- BBC: Eleven domestic workers arrested over illegal abortions in Hong Kong.
- The Interpreter: The narrative trap: How we can misread China.
- Kings and Things: The Vanished World of 19th Century Hong Kong.