The Rolling Stones aren't going to be there anymore. Wonder if Prince will not play also?

Rolling Stones won't play Hong Kong fest Organizers withdraw offer

Saturday, October 11, 2003
HONG KONG, China (Reuters) -- Organizers have withdrawn an offer to the Rolling Stones to perform at a government-funded pop fest in Hong Kong after criticism that the veteran British rockers were being overpaid.

"After a period of discussion with the Rolling Stones, during which we made them a firm offer and had a contract ready to be signed, we realized that the Rolling Stones were unable to commit to our offer in a timely manner. We have, therefore, decided to withdraw our offer," the organizers said in a statement.

Although the fee offer was kept confidential, Hong Kong media have speculated that the joint organizers -- the American Chamber of Commerce and a government-funded investment promotion unit -- might be overpaying the four-decade-old band.

In hopes of relaunching Hong Kong as a tourist destination after the economic disaster of this year's deadly SARS epidemic, the government promised to underwrite the three-week musical event to the tune of HK$ 80 million. But the gesture aroused public concern that the money might not be well spent.

The Harbour Fest, set to kick off on October 17, features artists such as Prince and Irish boyband Westlife.

A Hong Kong television station also reported that the Stones had cancelled what would have been their first performances in Beijing and Shanghai in November.