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Denise Tsang

Japanese boy band KAT-TUN have cancelled their trip to Hong Kong to meet fans, blaming the “uncertain situation” in the city.
Organisers GEM TV Asia and Nippon TV said on Wednesday they could not proceed with Friday and Saturday’s event in the city called The Music Day, in a decision announced two days after protesters trashed Hong Kong’s legislature.
The group was supposed to meet 120 fans in the city as part of a live show and Facebook Q&A session to be broadcast from a local studio.
Fans were left disappointed and posted scores of messages on social media saying that “Hong Kong is safe”.
The three-member band will instead feature in the line-up of a live broadcast on GEM TV Asia, filmed in Japan, from 3.50pm Hong Kong time on Saturday.

Hundreds of demonstrators, mostly younger people, stormed the Legislative Council building in Admiralty on Monday, vandalising the entrance, security system and some fixtures indoors as they protested against the now-suspended extradition bill, which would have enabled the city to transfer suspects to other jurisdictions it lacked a fugitive agreement with, including mainland China.
As they attacked the building, the city’s annual July 1 pro-democracy march, attended by an estimated 550,000 people, passed peacefully.
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The protesters at Legco wanted Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to step down and fully withdraw the bill, among other demands.
A cosmetic merchandiser, who gave her name as K Yong and has been a KAT-TUN fan for 15 years, was disappointed at the organisers' decision to describe Hong Kong's latest situation as uncertain.
“They overreacted, Hong Kong is very safe,” said the 30-year-old, who has taken part in three marches in the past month over the extradition bill.
“We fans were looking forward to meeting KAT-TUN, which could have been a much-needed consolation for Hong Kong. The city is tired.”
We fans were looking forward to meeting KAT-TUN, which could have been a much-needed consolation for Hong Kong. The city is tired
K Yong, fan
Yong said protests had so far been confined to the government and legislative bases in Admiralty and the police head office in Wan Chai, and those involved were fighting for a better Hong Kong.
“I do not think the protesters have any reasons to target KAT-TUN and fans,” she said. “The person who should worry about Hong Kong's uncertain situation is Carrie Lam.”
Another loyal fan, Christy Lee, a stay-at-home mother in her 20s who lives in Japan and bought an air ticket to fly to Hong Kong to meet KAT-TUN in person, said she would continue her trip from Friday to Sunday.
“I do not see Hong Kong as chaotic,” she said, expressing her disappointment at the cancellation.
KAT-TUN, formed under the influential Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 2001, have sold more than 13 million records in their home country alone.
The group’s title originates from the family names of the six original members: Kazuya Kamenashi, Jin Akanishi, Junnosuke Taguchi, Koki Tanaka, Tatsuya Ueda and Yuichi Nakamaru. The three remaining members, Ueda, Kamenashi and Nakamaru, were meant to visit Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s pay television channel Now TV partnered with GEM TV and Nippon TV for the event.
The Post has contacted the organisers for further comment.
This was not the first time KAT-TUN cancelled gigs amid uncertainty. In 2010, the group cancelled the Thailand leg of its Asia tour because of political unrest.


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The Legislative Council is left vandalized after protesters stormed the Legislative Council Chamber in Tamar during a protest against the extradition bill on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China held on July 1, 2019. 02JUL19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

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(L-R): Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu; Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor; and Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung meet the press at the Police Headquarters in Wan Chai after protesters stormed the Legislative Council Chamber in Tamar during a protest against the extradition bill on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China held on July 1, 2019. 02JUL19 SCMP / Winson Wong

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Protesters smash windows of the Legislative Council Complex in Tamar during a protest against the extradition bill on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China. 01JUL19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

Protesters spray paint the Hong Kong flag as they storm the Legislative Council Chamber in Tamar during a protest against the extradition bill on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China. 01JUL19 SCMP / Winson Wong

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News

Hong Kong

Politics

Fans stunned by decision announced on Wednesday, saying city is ‘very safe’
The Japanese singers were supposed to meet 120 fans in Hong Kong


KAT-TUN fans stunned by decision announced on Wednesday, telling organisers city is ‘very safe’.


Music

J-pop band KAT-TUN cancel Hong Kong trip to meet fans in Music Day event organised by GEM TV Asia and Nippon TV, blaming ‘uncertain situation’ in city following protests

Fans stunned by decision announced on Wednesday, saying city is ‘very safe’ The Japanese singers were supposed to meet 120 fans in Hong Kong

Fans stunned by decision announced on Wednesday, saying city is ‘very safe’

The Japanese singers were supposed to meet 120 fans in Hong Kong