【社評雙語道】升級服務設施 建設盛事之都
【原文】摘錄自5月25日香港《文匯報》：內地歌手華晨宇在香港中環海濱舉行為期三天的演唱會，大批歌迷蜂擁而至。長久以來，香港既是華語音樂的重要創作基地，也是海外樂隊和歌手開拓東方市場的重要踏板，在港舉辦的經典演唱會多不勝數。演唱會既滿足本地歌迷與偶像見面的願望，也為香港引來各地旅客，推動消費。特區政府與業界合力提升硬件軟件，令更多、更優質的演唱會在港舉行，更有效彰顯文創產業的價值，唱好盛事之都美名。
香港樂壇本身百花齊放，群星拱照，紅磡體育館更留下不少天王巨星歌手的足跡。香港有質素優良的演唱會場地，有經驗豐富創意十足的統籌團隊，有影響力廣泛的大眾媒體，也有懂得欣賞音樂的觀眾。
如果能夠將演唱會活動由一般商業娛樂活動，提升至經濟策略層級，與其他文化、旅遊相關經濟活動聯動，將可產生不可忽視的經濟新力量。
不過，本港演唱會能夠圓滿舉行，背後牽涉各種硬件軟件配套，香港須時刻鞏固升級，與時俱進。
第一是讓演唱會有更多場地選擇。如同體育活動一樣，本港的演出場地數量已見飽和，成為發展演唱會經濟一大障礙。不少音樂人都慨嘆，現時要爭取場地舉辦表演十分困難。
而且，時下世界級歌手普遍流行舉辦容納數以萬人的超大型演唱會，本港具類似規模的演出場地並不多，不一定符合他們預期。要促進「文化+」、建設盛事之都與中外文化藝術交流中心，引群星、獻好歌，開拓更多更新的演出場地，應列入特區政府的優先議程。
第二是促成演唱會與商界聯動。現時兩地人員來往方便頻繁，5月27日起，透過個人遊來港旅遊的城市，將增至59個。樂迷慕名來港「朝聖」看演唱會，可成為香港旅遊賣點。許多城市通過大型演唱會在當地舉辦，提供交通、餐飲、景點等，體現出演唱會可以產生許多邊際效益。在推動演唱會經濟的政策中，要推動本港商界增加贊助、推出優惠的意慾，使演唱會在票房以外製造更多元化經濟收益，惠及主辦方和本港服務業。
第三是完善體驗，注重歌迷需要。近年舉辦的大型表演，多次出現網上購票系統大塞車的情況，引起大眾不滿。維多利亞港元旦煙花匯演，口岸一度擠塞，旅客通宵滯留。
至於香港夏天常遇極端天氣，引致表演取消，觀眾失望而回，過去也是經常發生，部分業界以習以為常視之，退票或改期了事，未有特別改進安排。香港要直面問題，提升各種細節安排，積累經驗，即使面對意料之外情況，也要盡量為觀眾作最妥善的安排，展現良好的服務水平。
不論由本港歌星舉辦，還是邀請外地歌星舉辦演唱會，都能為香港的生活添上不少繽紛色彩。創造完善的市場鏈條，能使演唱會經濟發揮更大潛力，塑造香港良好國際形象，推動香港文化出海。
Upgrading service facilities to build an "Events Capital"
【譯文】Mainland singer Hua Chenyu held a three-day concert at the Central Waterfront in Hong Kong, attracting a large number of fans. Hong Kong has long been an important base for Chinese-language music creation, as well as an important stepping stone for overseas bands and singers to explore the Eastern market, and numerous classic concerts have been held in Hong Kong. These concerts not only satisfy local fans' wishes to meet their idols, but also attract tourists from all over the world to Hong Kong, thereby boosting consumption. The Government and the industry are working together to upgrade the hardware and software, so that more and better concerts can be held in Hong Kong, thereby highlighting the value of the cultural and creative industries and enhancing the reputation of Hong Kong as an "Events Capital".
The music of Hong Kong has been blooming with stars, and the Hong Kong Coliseum has left the footprints of many superstar singers. Hong Kong has high-quality concert venues, experienced and creative planning teams, influential mass media, and audiences who appreciate music. If concert activities can be upgraded from general commercial entertainment activities to the level of economic strategy, and linked with other cultural and tourism-related economic activities, it will generate an economic force that cannot be ignored.
However, the successful organisation of concerts in Hong Kong involves a variety of hardware and software support, and Hong Kong needs to constantly consolidate and upgrade to keep up with the times.
The first is to provide more choices of venues for concerts. Like sports activities, the number of performance venues in Hong Kong has reached saturation, which has become a major obstacle to the development of the "concert economy". Many musicians lament that it is now very difficult to secure venues for their performances. Moreover, as mega concerts with a capacity of tens of thousands of people are popular among world-class singers nowadays, there are not many performance venues of similar scale in Hong Kong, which may not necessarily meet their expectations. To promote "Culture+" and build an "Events Capital" and a "Centre for Chinese and Foreign Cultural and Artistic Exchange", the development of more and newer performance venues to attract stars and singers should be included in the Government's priority agenda.
The second is to promote the linkage between concerts and the business community. With the convenience of personnel exchanges between the two places, starting from 27 May, the number of cities where people can travel to Hong Kong through individual tours will increase to 59. Fans coming to Hong Kong for a "pilgrimage" to watch concerts can become a selling point for Hong Kong tourism.
Many cities provide transportation, catering, tourist attractions, etc. by hosting large-scale concerts in their cities, showing that concerts can generate many marginal benefits. In the policy of promoting the concert economy, it is important to promote the desire of the local business community to increase sponsorship, launch discounts, and create more diversified economic benefits beyond the box office, benefiting the organisers and local service industry.
The third is to improve the experience and focus on the needs of fans. In recent years, the online ticketing system for large-scale performances has often been "jammed", causing public dissatisfaction. The New Year fireworks show at Victoria Harbour once caused congestion at the border control points, and travellers were stranded overnight. The extreme weather often encountered in Hong Kong in summer leads to the cancellation of performances and disappointment of audiences, which has happened frequently in the past. Some members of the industry regard it as "common practice", and just refunded or rescheduled their tickets without making special improvement arrangements. Hong Kong needs to face up to these problems, improve various detailed arrangements, accumulate experience, and even in the face of unexpected situations, try to make the best arrangements for the audience and demonstrate a high level of service.
Whether it is a concert held by local singers or invited foreign singers, it can add a lot of vibrant colours to life in Hong Kong. Creating a comprehensive market chain can bring out the greater potential of the concert economy, shape a good international image of Hong Kong, and promote Hong Kong's cultural "outbound" activities.
◆ Tiffany
