Your Voice: Hong Kong should require real names when buying tickets; city must respect its Muslim community (long letters)
- Government should deter ticket scalping by requiring people to use their actual names when purchasing concert tickets, one student writes
- Another teen says Hong Kong discriminates against its Islamic residents despite claiming to embrace diversity
The Hong Kong government should require people to use their real names when buying concert tickets, one student writes. Photo: ShutterstockHave something to say? Send us a letter using this Google form.
Requiring real names would defeat the ticket scalpers
Suri Chan Tin-wing, Yan Chai Hospital Law Chan Chor Si College
Taeyeon, a member of the legendary group Girls’ Generation, ended her concert in Hong Kong on June 10 with a stunning performance. Fans of Girls’ Generation, including myself, were overjoyed as this was her first concert since 2017. After four years of the pandemic, things are finally returning to normal. Pop stars are holding music shows in Hong Kong. In July, Jong Yong Hwa, the leader of the famed boy band CNBLUE, is also holding a solo concert here. However, with more artists playing in Hong Kong, ticket scalping is a major concern.
Ticket scalping is the notorious act of reselling tickets at a higher price to make a profit. Scalpers usually hire people to buy as many tickets as possible, making things difficult for fans. As a result, many fans consider buying scalped tickets on social media platforms such as Instagram or Carousell. Scalpers take advantage of the fans’ love for their idols. For example, scalpers on flea market apps have sold Blackpink concert tickets for up to 16 times the original price.
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Ticket scalping is illegal in Hong Kong, but many people are unaware of this. According to the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance (Cap. 172), anyone who offers for sale or solicits the purchase of tickets for events held at licensed venues at prices in excess of the amount set by the proprietor, manager or organiser is guilty of violating Section 6b (2) of the ordinance. A violation of this rule carries a fine of just HK$2,000, which has remained unchanged since 1950.
This law is meant to ensure that ticket prices remain fair for all. However, according to a document published by the Legislative Council in 2019 on ticket scalping, there is a lack of known records of enforcement. Hong Kong police do not keep statistics on such arrests and prosecutions. This lack of data has made the law ineffective.
To combat scalping, the Hong Kong government must enforce the current law and enact new legislation for a real-name rationing system for buying concert tickets. It is a shame that there is no real-name rationing system already in place to fight scalpers. Concertgoers have the right to purchase tickets at fair prices and enjoy attending shows without the worry of scalpers. Everyone should have the same opportunities to buy concert tickets. Heavier penalties for scalpers should be introduced because the current law is ineffective.
In addition to the government enacting and enforcing laws, the Education Bureau must collaborate with schools to educate students to avoid buying tickets from scalpers. Driven by the desire to meet their idols, many teenagers turn to scalpers even though they risk purchasing fake tickets. The high cost of these tickets is often beyond the means of students, leading them to do illegal things to buy a ticket. Therefore, the Education Bureau must raise awareness about the dangers of scalping.
The current situation is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately. It is essential that the Hong Kong government takes swift action. If the government fails to do so, it will send the message that scalpers are free to continue their activities unchecked. It is time for the authorities to show they are serious about tackling this issue.
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Religious freedom is for everyone
Andy Chan, Chinese University of Hong Kong
It has come to my attention that the Islamic community in Hong Kong is being deliberately deterred from practising their faith, endangering the very fabric of our society’s future.
In a grotesque incident, I observed a young Muslim woman being forcibly removed from peacefully praying in a public library by a zealous security guard, who branded her spiritual devotion as a “cult”. This is not an isolated example, as I later witnessed another Muslim man attempting to conduct his holy prayer in a quiet corner of the library, only to meet with the same oppressive behaviour from the guard. In a city with over 300,000 Muslims, it is utterly unacceptable that such narrow-mindedness and intolerance is allowed to persist.
The question must be asked: Does Hong Kong genuinely embrace the values of pluralism and cultural diversity? On the website of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, visitors are reassured that there are prayer spaces dotted across the city. However, this is far from the reality.
Despite the growing number of Muslims in the New Territories, not a single formal mosque has been built there to cater to the Islamic community. It is an appalling situation that Muslims are left without proper facilities vital for the performance of their religious rituals.
Additionally, there are no definitive standards on whether Muslim practices are admissible in public areas, leading to unnecessary confrontations between security personnel and Muslim worshippers. This conundrum, which Muslims face frequently, challenges Hong Kong’s commitment to fostering interracial integration. The matter of assigning designated areas for Muslim prayers appears to be a minor concern for the authorities.
It is high time we paid due respect and acknowledged the cultural diversity of our society. We must work to build a Hong Kong that honours and values all communities, regardless of their race, faith or creed. This ought to translate into the provision of facilities and guidelines for Muslims to practise their religion without experiencing disenfranchisement or disrespect.