(Clearwisdom.net) Six key production staff of Shen Yun Performing Arts were denied entry visas into Hong Kong six days before the show was scheduled to debut in the Chinese autonomous region on January 27. Organizers of the performance announced that the show would be canceled as a result of the visa refusals by the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Ms. Li Weina, company manager of the Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company, said that this incident was not purely a visa issue, but involved political suppression. She said, "It is obvious that the Hong Kong government is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and is trying to undermine the show." She said that Shen Yun Performing Arts will definitely perform in Hong Kong in the future, and that it is just a matter of time.
Ms. Li Weina
Ms. Li said, "In the battle between righteousness and evil, the righteous will win eventually."
She said that the Hong Kong government has made a wrong decision, giving in to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) pressure, so it should take full responsibility for the cancellation of the shows.
Mr. Deng Yu, the audio engineer of Shen Yun performing arts, is one of the six key production staff. He said that as a world class performing arts company, all the actors and staff comprise a whole body, and none of them can be missing. The audio engineering is one of the very important components of the show. The audio engineers have been involved in the show from very beginning, helping with design and composition. They have spent a lot of time collaborating with the actors and paying attention to every little detail of the show.
Mr. Deng Yu
Mr. Deng said it is sad that the Hong Kong government denied entry visas to Shen Yun staff, because it not only kept the show from going on, but also deprived Hong Kong people of the opportunity to see it. He emphasized that the Shen Yun audio engineers have collaborated with the company for a long time, so no one else could substitute for them.
Mr. Deng, a professional cello player and composer himself, emphasized that any performing arts company needs to have its own staff. He said, "I have composed several pieces of music for the show. My main job is adjusting the audio equipment, which is not just pushing buttons. Shen Yun Performing Arts pursues perfection. One cannot do this job without a deep understanding of the music.
"It takes a long time for an audio engineer to grasp the essence of the music and have a good understanding of the music. So, even an engineer with decades of experience can't do well right after he joins the team. It is simply impossible, because good collaboration takes time. You can't find a temporary substitute. It is like playing basketball. Even if you assemble all the greatest players, they can't do well before they spend time on collaboration."
Ms. Li Weina pointed out that it was obvious that the Hong Kong government had no valid reason to deny the visa applications. "Many performing artists and companies have visited Hong Kong. None of them have had this problem. This was a shameful thing to do," she said. "It is an example of how ugly the CCP is."
Shen Yun Performing Arts has been welcomed all over the world, but encountered a problem in Hong Kong. "We want to bring this beautiful cultural show to the people of Hong Kong, but we are being bullied," she said.
"The members of the company were very disappointed," Ms. Li Weina said. "They are happy to bring Chinese culture to the world, and they are proud of it. But now, since most of them grew up in America, they can't understand why the Hong Kong government would give us trouble. Shen Yun is welcomed all over the world, but being discriminated against in Hong Kong, a Chinese city? They can't understand it."
Mr. Deng said, "I still believe that Shen Yun will perform in Hong Kong someday in the future. Hong Kong people value freedom. I have confidence in them. Hong Kong people will fight for their rights."
Ms. Li said, "We will come to Hong Kong in the future. It is just a matter of time. In the battle between evil and righteousness, the righteous always win. Through this incident, the people of Hong Kong will recognize the evil nature of the CCP. I believe more people will stand up and protect their rights."
