2010-1-25 12:6131
Shen Yun was set to perform seven shows to sold-out crowds in Hong Kong later this week. But now they’ve been canceled because Hong Kong authorities refused visas to six of the show’s key production staff.
According to a statement on the Shen Yun website, the staff applied for visas in October last year, but they were denied on January 21—just three days before the Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company was set to depart.
[Ms. Xu Qixian, Hong Kong Falun Dafa Association Secretary]: “Usually the immigration department’s general procedure for visa application takes about four weeks to complete. However, this was delayed until Jan 21, that’s 14 weeks after we submitted the first batch of visa applications.”
Hong Kong immigration told the show’s presenters that the visas were denied because the positions could be filled locally. But public figures in Hong Kong say it’s because of political pressure from the Chinese regime.
[Albert Ho Chun-yan, Chairman of Hong Kong Democratic Party]: “This is a decision from the top down, most likely a decision from Beijing. It suppresses [Shen Yun] until the last minute, so that you do not have time to complain, and do not have time go to court for judicial review. For this type of behavior, I can only use the word, ‘shameful,’ or another word, ‘mean.’”
Shen Yun is known for showing traditional Chinese culture—culture that has been suppressed by the Chinese Communist Party. Some of the songs and dances also depict the Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice that’s been suppressed for more than 10 years.
[Huang Haodong, Hong Kong Cultural Worker]:
“I feel very shocked and angry, because Shen Yun is a legal and well-loved performing arts group. The Hong Kong immigration department is unreasonably making things difficult for them. I think the Hong Kong government is very shameful.”
All of the tickets for Shen Yun’s Hong Kong shows had sold out within one week of the box office opening.
Shen Yun organizers are requesting a reevaluation of the visa denials by Hong Kong’s Immigration Department.
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