Neighbours warn they will take action if 'noisy' concerts become an everyday

WITH the refurbished and expanded Hong Kong Stadium little more than a day old, police have received more than 40 complaints from nearby residents about the noise from celebratory activities.

Stadium neighbours began complaining when rehearsals started for this weekend's gala launch involving a light and synthesiser extravaganza by French showman Jean Michel Jarre. But what's worse, according to residents, is that there's more to come since concerts are seen as a commercial necessity for the stadium's ongoing viability.

Choy Lap-chun, a resident of the Ching Man village adjacent to the stadium, said that already his way of life had been spoilt by the events over the past few days.

Speaking during a rehearsal for last night's live television broadcast, he said: ''Before all this there were only announcements for the soccer. But now I'm afraid our peace is shattered and we'll have to live in a noisier environment.'' Mr Choy said the disturbance from the stadium had already made him very tired at work. Another resident, So Kwong, said he feared the situation would become even worse if no one spoke up.

He said: ''I haven't been able to sleep for the past few nights and I don't want this to continue. However I doubt the stadium's management will listen to us when they can earn so much money from these programmes.'' In his opinion sports facilities should be used chiefly for sports. They should not be there just to earn money.

''We don't want the stadium to be another Hong Kong Coliseum. We all know that it has been almost solely used as a stage for pop-singers since it was finished.