Rumor has it that the HD ports have been completed for a while. Here's hoping whatever the holdup was has been cleared. Some say it is rights issues, but I can't imagine what right's issues there are (music maybe?). Or it could be that they wanted it ready for PS4 and XB1?
If it were music, they'd just replace the offending tracks.
At any rate, next gen is here and E3 is coming up. If they're not announced, then the rumor was probably bogus.
I'm afraid those HD ports would make the same sucess as the Yakuza HD port.
Then the dream about Shenmue III would be buried again
They'd be your ticket to getting a third game if they do well enough. If they fail, at least the Shenmue community will quiet down, so that's a plus...