HONG KONG—Six key production staff of Shen Yun Performing Arts were denied entry visas into Hong Kong six days before the show is scheduled to debut in the Chinese autonomous region on Jan. 27. Organizers of the performance are requesting a reevaluation of the visa refusals by the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Shen Yun, a New York-based performing arts group, was invited by the Hong Kong Falun Dafa Association, and local bureau of New Tang Dynasty Television and The Epoch Times, to give seven performances from Jan. 27 to Jan. 31 in Hong Kong. According to the presenting organizations, tickets for all seven shows were sold out within the first week of sales. Shen Yun is known for depicting the traditional Chinese culture that was suppressed during the Cultural Revolution, as well as messages of hope about ending the persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice that has been suppressed in China since 1999.
On Jan. 22, the Immigration Department denied entry visas for seven of the 96 artists and staff on account of alleged incompatibility with Hong Kong labor laws. After multiple requests from the presenters, the Immigration Department granted a visa for one additional artist, leaving the company short of six production staff.
Hon. Albert Ho Chun-yan, legislative council member and chairman of the Democratic Party (Hong Kong), said that the Immigration Department knew that it would be impossible for Shen Yun to perform without the six production staff. The individuals in question have worked with the group for many years, and handle highly specialized technical duties as well as coordinate the entire company. Ho, chairman of the Hong Kong Democratic Party, says that it would be impossible to find local replacements that are qualified.
“The production staff have accompanied the performing group to various countries for performances. They are an indispensable part of the performing group,” he said.
Reason for the Visa Denials
Although presenters applied for the visas back on Oct. 13, the denials came only a week before the opening show. Given the late decision, there is no time to file a lawsuit. Ho believes the last minute denials were intentional and politically motivated.
