Hong Kong authorities to investigate after massive screen falls during concert, injures dancers

Hong Kong officials said Friday they would open an investigation into a concert accident where a giant LED video screen fell down onto the stage and injured two dancers.

Video clips from the Cantopop group Mirror concert Thursday night show a massive LED screen suspended above the stage crashing down, directly landing on one dancer before toppling over onto another as audience members scream in horror.

The injured performers were immediately sent to the Queen Elizabeth hospital.

“One of the injured is staying in the intensive care unit in serious condition and underwent an operation [Friday]. Accompanied by his family, the other injured person in stable condition was discharged this afternoon,” the Hospital Authority said in a statement.

Local media reported that Chang Tsz-fung, 29, was released from hospital, while Mo Lee Kai-yin, 27, remained in the hospital in serious condition.

Kai-yin dislocated the third and fourth sections of his cervical vertebrae, leaving him unable to move. Doctors were able to stabilize him after an overnight procedure and surgery.

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Authorities found that one of the two metal cords holding up the screen had snapped during the concert. An investigation is currently underway as experts attempt to figure out what exactly caused the suspension wires to fail. 

The concert’s various contractors, including Engineering Impact and Hip Hing Loong, will be participating in the investigation with authorities.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung told reporters Friday the government was “very concerned” about the incident and that an investigation would be conducted, likely over several weeks.

“We will do research to find out whether (the steel cable broke) due to an operational or material problem. It cannot currently be concluded at this stage,” said Yeung, adding that the incident will affect “all future performances.”

Authorities will also try to determine if any safety improvements are needed at other venues for upcoming performances to minimize the chances of such an incident occurring again, Yeung said.

Officers from the Labour Department have collected evidence from the venue and will work to determine who is responsible for the incident, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said.

He said all activity under the remaining suspended screens at the venue will be halted, and organizers will work with government officials to determine how best to remove the suspended screens safely.

Hong Kong leader John Lee said Friday that authorities will “comprehensively investigate the incident” and review safety requirements for future performances, according to a government statement.

He also said the government would help family members of one of the injured dancers be able to travel from Canada to Hong Kong to see him.

Concert organizer MakerVille said in a statement it was “deeply saddened” over the injuries of two performers and that it would work with authorities in the probe.

“If we find anything suspicious, or if any person or unit is involved in misconduct, we will immediately report it to the police,” the statement read.

The concert on Thursday was the fourth of 12 scheduled concerts by Mirror, with tens of thousands of fans having bought tickets.

The remaining eight shows have been canceled, but concert organizers announced that they will issue refunds to the fans.

Mirror, the 12-member band, has skyrocketed in popularity in Hong Kong and been credited with the revival of Cantopop.