Why licences for buskers won’t work in Hong Kong: think ‘censorship’ cries

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Street performer Andrew So, aka Mr Funny, performs at Sai Yeung Choi Street South in Mong Kok on June 3. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 10:45am, 10 Jun 2018Updated: 12:31pm, 15 Oct 2020

Whether or not the Mong Kok pedestrian precinct should be closed has recently provoked heated discussion online, especially after the Yau Tsim Mong district council voted to open Sai Yeung Choi Street South up to traffic again (“Mong Kok street performers get the chop”, May 24).

Amid the controversy, some believe that the Hong Kong government should regulate street performers by issuing licences. Similar measures are taken by the Australian government. Local governments in Australia issue licences to buskers and street performers. The permit of those street performers who receive noise complaints are liable to be revoked.

In Brisbane, such licences remain in effect for a period of three months. Auditions are held to ensure the quality of the performances. Hong Kong, however, has yet to decide on an official mechanism to manage street performers.

Street performer Hemlock Mejarne flies over audience volunteers during a acrobatic show at Sydney's Circular Quay. Local governments in Australia issue permits to street performers, a system some have called for Hong Kong to consider. Photo: AP

At first glance, a licensing mechanism seems to be effective to regulate the street performers in Hong Kong and to prevent the residents and shop owners in the precinct from being disturbed. However, licensing implies that some criteria have to be set up to evaluate the performers and buskers.

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