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In 1984, Elton John’s Hong Kong debut sparked ticket complaints from fans

High-priced tickets sold out for the rock superstar’s 2 shows at the city’s Coliseum, but organisers dismissed complaints

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Elton John pictured at The Peninsula Hong Kong in 1983. Photo: SCMP Archives

Published: 6:00am, 28 Mar 2025

“A local music promoter yesterday described ticket sales complaints by Elton John fans as ‘misleading and unreliable’,” reported the South China Morning Post on March 13, 1984. “‘We have reserved more than 80 per cent of tickets for the public for Elton’s first concert in Hongkong,’ said Mr Johnson Chiu, assistant to the managing director of Jesu International Entertainment Ltd. Elton John is due to give his debut performance at the Hongkong Coliseum on March 30 […] The reason for the sell-out of high-priced tickets was that a good lighting design was anticipated. [John] and his 27-member team will arrive in Hongkong on the eve of his scheduled concert.”

On March 30, the Post reported that, “Elton John will be pacing back and forth more than usual tonight just before he steps on stage. The English rock star said he was nervous about his two Hongkong concerts because he wasn’t quite sure what to expect. ‘I have never played here before. At least in America and Britain I know what’s what,’ he explained.

“Hongkong is the third stop on [John’s] world tour. Over 20 European countries, including Yugoslavia and Poland, lie ahead of him. After that it’s onto the US and Canada.

Rock star Elton John holds a press conference at the Holiday Inn ahead of his two concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum in March 1984. Photo: SCMP Archives

“Elton said he hoped his Hongkong audiences would find his concerts at the Coliseum – promised to last more than two hours – an entertaining and enjoyable experience. ‘We’ve got the most amazing light show. Well I say it’s amazing. I never see it because I’m on stage, but everyone says it’s pretty good.’ Local promoters Jesu International are paying just over $1.5 million for the two performances. Tickets are still available for tonight.”

On April 2, the Post ran a note from Jesu International’s managing director, Rigo Jesu, who wrote that he “would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to patrons of the two Elton John concerts by our shifting of the stage location. This had to be done when it was learned that the Hongkong Coliseum did not have sufficient rigging points […] The only possible way to hang the lighting was to move the stage to its ultimate position, which resulted in some seating disarray. However, anyone who attended Elton’s concerts will agree that this small inconvenience was worth the incredible light show [but] I hope someone will look into the problems of rigging points there to enable future shows to be presented in their full glory”.