WASHINGTON—Several congressmen spoke at an afternoon news conference Jan. 27 on Capitol Hill, raising strong objections to the denial of visas by Hong Kong immigration officials—only three days before departure time—to seven members of the Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company. The company said it was forced to cancel its Hong Kong tour, scheduled for Jan. 27-31, impacting over 7,700 ticket holders. The seven Hong Kong performances were sold out.
Hong Kong immigration stated that the Shen Yun technical people can be replaced by local labor. But company spokespersons emphatically stated that the seven crew members are an integral part of Shen Yun Performing Arts, are highly trained in Shen Yun’s specific artistic requirements, and it would be impossible to do the show to its high standard without them.
According to lighting engineer Chia-hwa Tsai, who was one of the seven whose visa application was denied, companies such as American Ballet Theater, Disney on Ice, and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, ... all have their own lighting designer, sound engineer, and projection operator. It requires time to know the show and study and work together to provide the best effect on the stage. This is really a common practice in this industry.”
Later, one of the seven was granted a visa, but that did not change the company’s capacity to perform.
“It is very disappointing that Hong Kong didn’t grant the visas which led to the cancellation of the shows,” said Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), who attended Shen Yun’s Jan. 20 performance at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C.
Congressman Bilirakis had sent a letter Thursday Jan. 21 to the director of Immigration of Hong Kong, urging Hong Kong immigration authorities to approve Shen Yun staff entry visas, then not yet approved. On Friday Jan. 22 Hong Kong authorities denied entry visas for six members of Shen Yun Performing Arts, forcing Shen Yun to cancel its Hong Kong performances.
