To Cancel, or Not To Cancel, That is the Question

The tragedy that happened in Tai Po earlier was heart-breaking and it became global news all over the world overnight. Hundreds of lives and thousands of families were affected. The whole society was mourning for the loss and the fragility of humans. Countless events were cancelled over that weekend and there were many more were following. While most event cancellation/postponement were out of grief to the loss, some involved practical reasons such as resources, feasibility, and psychological factors (for example, police for Trailwalker, route for some races that would pass by the disaster venue). 

As an event organiser, should you consider cancelling or postponing your event? Until when should the society resume to ‘normal’ and events be carried out without any concern?

While many events were cancelled, there were exceptions. One of them was the MAMA Music Award 2025. This was a 2-day show held at the Kai Tak Stadium and many of the artists and spectators were from overseas. The organiser chose not to cancel the event, but they have impressed everyone in Hong Kong by changing their rundowns, theme and even dress code. All happened in less than 3 days — re-designing the event rundown, informing and contacting all the performing parties, re-writing the emcee scripts, re-doing the rehearsals, updating the stylists for clothing/performer wardrobe, changing the choreography for dancing, even changing the lyrics of some songs… the list should be a lot longer. Anyone who has event organisation experience would know how much effort the organiser crew have put in, and how difficult it is to make the event look so smooth and respectful. This was why they have earned so much respect from Hong Kong people even though they chose to carry on the show 2 days right after the tragedy. 

I think another major talking point of the show was the appearance for our beloved Hong Kong idol Mr Chow Yun-fat. There was the rumour that he would not attend the event, similar to other Hong Kong artists like MIRROR (the band). However, turned out he had shown up on the stage as the prize presenter for GD (Kwon Ji-yong). ‘Fat Gor’ (as how HK people dearly called Chow) showed up with a serious facial expression, said a few words and led the whole crowd in the stadium for a moment of silence to pay respect to all who suffered. Then he turned on the professional mode as a prize presenter for this BIG show. He danced and held hands with GD during the presentation. No one said anything. No one exaggerated his appearance. Everything was just right, the show itself, the rundown, and his attendance.

To cancel or not to cancel? To show up or not to show up? This is a complicated question and I don’t think A.I. can provide you the right answer. Or, is there a ‘right’ answer? Paying tribute to the affected parties is nothing wrong. Letting the emotions to sink in as long as one can is nothing wrong. Not smiling or laughing at an event is nothing wrong. But how long this period should last for?

“Life goes on” is an idiom with a lot of wisdom in it. With the election on 7 DEC conducted smoothly, I think most would agree it’s an indicator for the society to resume normal. Unless your activities are directly related to Tai Po district, allowing your events to resume could be one remedy for Hong Kong people to step out of the sadness. Our lives go on. We all will need to carry the weight of sorrow while moving on positively. I think the organiser of MAMA showed us a good example of how to strike the balance between cancel or not cancel. The appearance of Chow Yun-fat and how he behaved was a good example of show up or not show up.

The Sun will still rise and our lives go on. Wish all the Tai Po residents can settle down as soon as possible while the rest of Hong Kong will show the resilience we embrace, as one of Hong Kong’s edge, as always.

（中文版）

出席與唔出席的藝術　取消與唔取消的平衡

早前大埔慘劇令人心碎，整個社會都為逝去的生命和生命的脆弱而哀悼；隨之的週末和其後，有許許多多活動被取消或延期。有些固然是為對逝者的尊重，但有些也牽涉實際考量，如資源、場地以至參加者心理因素（譬如毅行者要動用警力、部分賽事路線會經過災難發生地點等）。作為活動主辦方，你應該考慮取消活動還是延期？社會到什麼時候才叫恢復正常，活動可毫無顧慮地舉行？

應變的藝術

在多個活動被取消的同時，也有一些活動選擇如期進行；其一就是事發僅兩天後舉行的MAMA 2025 亞洲音樂大獎。這個在啟德體育館舉行、為期兩天的表演，許多藝人和觀眾均來自海外。主辦方決定不取消活動，但他們迅速地大幅改變節目流程、主題甚至服裝要求，給所有香港人留下了深刻印象。這一切都在不到三天內拍板及執行，包括：活動流程的重新設計、通知和聯繫所有表演單位、重寫司儀稿、重新排練、更改造型師的服裝、更改舞蹈編排，甚至更改一些歌曲的歌詞⋯⋯而這只是實際清單的冰山一角。任何有策劃活動經驗的人都會知道，大會是付出了多少努力，做到如此順暢和尊重又是多麼困難。這就是為何儘管他們在慘劇發生兩天後繼續演出，但仍贏得了香港人的默然頷首。

出席的藝術

這次演出另一主要的討論點，是我們敬愛的香港偶像「發哥」周潤發先生的出現。事前有傳言說他不會出席活動，就像其他香港藝人如 MIRROR 樂隊一樣；然而，他最終以 GD（權志龍）的頒獎嘉賓身分出現在舞台上，肩負起為香港人傳達心聲的沉重角色。周潤發先是以嚴肅的表情現身，簡潔開場白後帶領體育館內所有觀眾默哀，向所有受難者致哀。然後他進入專業模式，擔任這個大型節目的頒獎嘉賓。在頒獎過程中，他以尊重活動、得獎者和觀眾的態度，與 GD 共舞並牽手。無論是演出本身、節目流程還是他的出席，一切都專業但又情摯，多一分則太多，少一分則太少。

「致意」的時機掌捏

取消／出席還是不取消／出席？這是一個沒答案的問題，人工智能也無法為你提供「正確」答案。或者，什麼才是「正確」的答案？向受影響的各方致意沒有錯，讓情緒沉澱沒有錯，在活動中不笑或不開心也沒有錯。但這個時期應該持續多久？我們應何時「復常」？

就像曾經的沙士、疫情，從沉痛中振作，我們「生活還是要繼續」（Life goes on），社會也必需慢慢恢復正常。今次復常的訊號燈，可說是12 月 7 日的選舉舉行。大埔地區直接相關的活動和支援仍在繼續的同時，我們也將承載着這份悲傷的重量，積極向前邁進。MAMA 主辦方向我們展示的，是如何在取消與不取消之間取得平衡；周潤發先生的出現和表現，是出席與不出席藝術的楷模。

太陽依然會升起，我們的生活會繼續。在香港社會一貫的堅強、韌性與艱難時刻義不容辭伸出援手的溫暖之下，謹願所有大埔居民盡快安定下來，克服難關。