Joe Hisaishi in Concert Announces Ticket Ballot and Real-name Ticketing System

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) announces today that tickets for the additional performance of Joe Hisaishi in Concert on 5 May 2018 3pm will be sold through a pilot implementation of Ticket Ballot and Real-name Ticketing System. This unprecedented ticketing measure shows our determination to prevent unofficial reselling of tickets and aims to ensure that tickets will be made available only for those who genuinely would like to enjoy the concert. 80% of the tickets will be made available for public purchase via this ticketing procedure.

With tremendous support from URBTIX and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, this performance will be the first in the Hong Kong performing arts scene to be sold through a Ticket Ballot and Real-name Ticketing System. The HK Phil and URBTIX haveauthorised the independent ticketing agency Cityline (Hong Kong) Ltd. (henceforth referred to as Cityline) to organise the ticket ballot. All tickets for public sale will be allocated according to the sequence of the ballot result. All successful applicants in the ticket ballot will need to purchase their tickets in person during a stipulated period at designated URBTIX outlets. All tickets will be printed with the full name of the ticket-holder, and will be verified by the ticket-holder's photo ID at concert admission. No tickets can be transferred. To ensure fairness, the HK Phil, URBTIX and Cityline will be jointly supervising and verifying the process and results of the ticket ballot.

The HK Phil hopes this new procedure, while possibly creating some inconvenience to the audience, will avoid queuing time and make it possible for patrons to purchase tickets in a more equitable manner. The HK Phil would like to thank the audience for their consideration and patience while taking part in this special procedure, and would like to call for the support of the public in preventing ticket touts. For details, please refer to the below "The Ticketing Procedure" (next page).

A total of four performances of the HK Phil "Joe Hisaishi in Concert" will be held on 4-6 May 2018 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. All tickets for three of the performances have already been sold. 80% of the tickets for all performances, including the additional performance to be put on sale, have been made available for public purchase. The remaining tickets are allocated to the HK Phil's sponsors and partners. The concert will be conducted by the world-renowned Japanese composer Joe Hisasihi, playing his own works.

Tickets priced: HK$1,080 $880 $680 $480. Tickets for the additional concert will be sold via Ticket Ballot and Real-name TicketingSystem. Online registration for ballot will be accepted from 26 March 2018 10:00am until 2 April 2018 11:59pm.

The Ticketing Procedure
(Details can also be found on the balloting registration page on Cityline website)

Any individual aged 6 or above can register for the ticket ballot on the Cityline balloting website (this can be accessed through HK Phil and URBTIX websites) between 26 March 2018 10:00am and 2 April 2018 11:59pm. Each applicant can register for the ballot to apply to purchase a maximum of two tickets. Information including the first 4 digits of their valid photo ID number, and the fullname of the applicant and any fellow concert-goer must be provided at the time of registration. The name(s) provided by the applicant will be printed on the concert ticket(s) for verification during concert admission, and changes to the name(s) will not be permitted after the registration period. Any ticket holders who fail to present their photo ID with matching name printed on the ticket will not be admitted. Each person will be allowed to register for just ONE ballot, and the system will only process the latest registered record if there is duplication. All registrations made during the online registration period have an equal chance of being selected. No fee will be charged during the registration period, nor will the system capture any payment information.

The ballot result quoting registration reference number will be announced on the Cityline balloting website on 9 April. Successful applicants will also be notified via email. Seating will be allocated according to the sequence of the ballot result. Information of the allocated seat number will be mentioned in the confirmation email of successful ballot entry. To purchase ticket(s), successful applicants should bring along their confirmation email of successful ballot entry, together with their valid photo ID used for the registration IN PERSON, to any of the four designated URBTIX outlets. In addition to the ticket price, successful applicants must pay a non-refundable ballot service charge of HK$35 per ticket. Any successful ballot applicants who subsequently findthemselves unable to attend the concert after purchasing their tickets are allowed a refund of half of the ticket face value on orbefore 30 April 2018. No refund of the HK$35 ballot service charge will be made. Successful applicants who fail to purchase tickets IN PERSON at the designated URBTIX outlets within the stipulated period will be regarded as having forfeited their right of ticket purchase without further notice.

Unsuccessful applicants will be automatically added to the waiting list according to the ballot sequence. Any unsold tickets or tickets returned from refund will be released to those on the waiting list. A confirmation email will be sent to successful waiting list applicants. They should purchase their allocated tickets in person at the designated URBTIX outlets within the stipulated period.

Should there still be any unsold or returned tickets after allocation to applicants on the waiting list, the total number of the remaining tickets will be announced on the Cityline balloting website. These tickets will be put up for public sale on the concert date (i.e. 5 May) from 10:00am at the box office (URBTIX) of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. These tickets can only be purchased by audience members IN PERSON with a valid photo ID. All tickets will be printed with the name of the audience member. One person can purchase a maximum of 2 tickets, and those who would like to purchase 2 tickets must also provide the English full name of the fellow concert-goer for printing on the ticket(s).

For concert admission, ticket holders are advised to arrive at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre 1.5 hours before the concert starts. Venue staff will check the name on the ticket against the name on the photo ID. Admission will only be allowed after successful verification.

Photo by: Studio Ghibli

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