聯署連結：公開道歉及全面交代不當安檢及強制驅離事件
敬告港深城市建築雙城雙年展主辦單位，我們是香港的藝文工作者及來自各國的港深城市建築雙城雙年展2013（下稱雙年展）參展人。從公開的資訊可知，12月11日雙年展開幕禮上，多名參展人曾受到無禮及非法待遇。大會並無提供協助，及至此尚無解釋．我們對主辦單位表示強烈不滿，並提出以下質詢與要求：
我們請主辦單位公開回應以下疑問：
1. 雙年展開幕禮上的安檢人員數量如此龐大，是因為特首到場。因這安排，嚴重干擾了參展人，為何主辦單位認為應邀請特首到場？
2. 為何部分參展人因不在進場嘉賓名單中，就無法進場？
3. 主辦單位事前是否制訂指引的一方，即事前已決定一旦有參展者在開幕禮表達訴求，就立即驅逐他們？
4. 安檢人員在驅逐人前為何完全沒有警告他們和解釋在場的行事規則？他們的行動是否合法？
5. 為什麼雙年展得知本地文化工作者對「起動九龍動」強烈反感，仍與「起動九龍東」合作？
我們要求主辦單位就12月11日發生的事情，採取以下行動︰
1. 解釋不當的安檢措施並向受影響人公開道歉
開幕禮入口充斥保鏢、警察及保安人員，造成參展者入場的不便以及種種驅趕與圍封，在安檢過程中，保安竟將參展人的私人物品公開，並容許媒體在旁拍攝，主辦單位容許此等不當行為，我們要求主辦單位向受影響者公開道歉。
2. 向被驅逐離場的參展人(包括一位來自台灣的藝術家) 公開道歉
當天有被趕離開幕禮的參展人中，其中一人是一名不會說廣東話，台灣的參展者。在被帶離場以後，該參展人在無第三人陪同下，受到保安人員與便衣警察不友善的盤問其政治立場．除此以外，另一位藝術家被保安人員驅趕，理由僅僅是詢問為何台籍的參展人被帶走。
3. 為主辦單位並未支援參展者公開道歉
4. 為失當安排讓媒體失焦公開道歉
當天種種安排讓媒體報導參展人與他們的作品時，有了負面的效果，主辦單位應負責並道歉。
我們認為在星期三開幕活動的一連串事件後，主辦單位應立即聯繫所有受影響者人解釋清楚，但主辦單位並無採取主動。主辦單位理應公開回應．因此，我們特此發出公開信，，請主辦單位負起責任，回應上述疑問與要求。
（本公開信廣泛發給了本地藝文工作者、雙年展各國參與人及公眾，以聯署方式向主辦單位發出）
藝文工作者與雙年展參展人連線
(we updated the petition on 18,Dec in a shortened fashion, in align with the Chinese Text. The content remain the same)
Dear Organisers of the Hong Kong Shenzhen Bi-City Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism (UABB*HK),
We are a group of international exhibitors and artists invited to the UABB*HK 2013.
As already publicly reported in the media, on Wednesday, 11 December, several participating exhibitors and artists were ill-treated and forcibly removed from the Biennial opening events. The organising groups (HKIA, HKIP and HKDA) did not come to their assistance; neither was any explanation given. This letter is an expression of our strong dissatisfaction with the organising committees, and what follows is a concise summary of our concerns and requests.
We request the organizers to publicly respond to the following questions:
Why was the opening filled with security guards and police? Were the special measures requested by CY Leung?
Why were some of the officially invited exhibitors not included on the guest list? Why did everyone have to go through a security check?
EKEO (Energizing Kowloon East Office) represents top-down gentrification. Should a biennale with the curatorial theme, "Beyond the Urban Edge: "The Ideal City?"" be cooperating with EKEO?
Did the organisers know in advance that the artists would be evicted physically?
Who gave that order? Was it the Hong Kong government, HKIA, HKIP, HKDA, etc?
Did the organisers order the security guards to evict the Taiwanese exhibitor, and allow that exhibitor to be interrogated without a third-party witness?
In addition to the above questions regarding the events of December 11, we request that the organisers take action on the following issues:
1. Public Apology on Inappropriate Security Measures
The entrance to the Biennial opening was flooded with CY Leung's security, police and EKEO security personnel, leading to the extreme difficulty by which participants entered the site, including having their personal belongings opened and exposed to media photographers. We request that the organisers give a full apology to those who have received such inhumane treatment and were forcibly evicted from the premises.
2. Open Apology and Full Explanation on Forcible Removal of Participating Exhibitors
Among those who were forcibly evicted by security staff from the opening events was one exhibitor from Taiwan who does not speak Cantonese. After merely enquiring why a fellow exhibitor was taken out of the EKEO building, she was also escorted off the site, then questioned by a plain-clothed security personnel of unknown affiliation in a disrespectful and humiliating manner. The exhibitor was repeatedly and offensively demanded to speak in Cantonese.
3. Request for Open Apology from UABB*HK and the organisers (HKIA, HKIP and HKDA) for the lack of Assistance to Exhibitors
4.Apology for Distraction of the Media
The organisers should apologise for poor organisation and control of the media at the opening events, which led to the inappropriate documentation of the above stated events and closed off what should be the focus of the exhibition, the actual works, from being viewed.
We believe that the organisers should have immediately contacted all those who were affected by the unfortunate events during the opening on the December 11, but there has been no initiative on their part. We demand a public response to this letter, and respectfully ask the organisers to take responsibility for responding to our questions.
(This letter has been sent to local art workers, other international exhibitors of the Biennial and by post to the organising committees.)
Artists and Exhibitors Alliance