28th March 2025 – (Hong Kong) British band Coldplay is scheduled to perform at Kai Tak Stadium next month, but the ticketing platform Cityline has revealed that some tickets contain incorrect information and require replacement. The cause of this error has yet to be disclosed, and the ticket exchange process has faced significant criticism. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Rosanna Law, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, expressed her disappointment, labelling the situation as “unthinkable.” She announced plans for the government to consult with major event organisers to gather insights on their experiences with Cityline and to explore the establishment of a new ticketing platform.
During the interview, Law reiterated her concerns regarding the ticketing error, stressing that Cityline should provide a public explanation. Currently, Cityline operates nine ticket exchange points across seven locations in Hong Kong and two cities in mainland China. Law noted that foreign ticket holders arriving in Hong Kong would still be able to exchange their tickets, indicating that the impact on affected individuals might be limited.
However, she emphasised that such incidents must not happen again. The government aims to investigate the circumstances surrounding the error and seeks to enhance the territory’s ticketing system in the long term, suggesting the adoption of electronic tickets for all events. Additionally, Law intends to consult with event organisers to evaluate their previous experiences with Cityline and to assess the potential need for a universal, independent ticketing platform.
Law acknowledged Hong Kong’s free market, allowing event organisers to select their ticketing platforms. Nonetheless, she insisted that if reforms are proposed, Cityline must improve its performance; otherwise, event organisers may reconsider their partnership with the platform.
