West Kowloon park bosses urged to scrap list of 'restrictive' by-laws
Concern groups urge arts hub bosses to scrap idea of by-laws for 23-hectare open space and rely instead on public's sense of responsibility
Planned by-laws covering the future West Kowloon park should be torn up and the public given the right to decide how the open space is used, according to a call by some 20 concern groups.
The groups say the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority should trust the sense of responsibility of park-goers rather than trying to manage the 23 hectares of open space from the top down. They will put their concerns to the authority and its consultation panel this month.
The authority last month revealed plans to draw up a list of banned behaviour, including use of foul language, annoying others, and - in an apparent nod to concerns about the behaviour of mainland tourists - public urination and defecation. The by-laws will need lawmakers' approval.
But Ada Wong Ying-kay, founder and chief executive of one of the concern groups, the Hong Kong Institute of Contemporary Culture, said freeing the park from rules would foster responsibility among park users.
Doing so would change the culture of the city's public spaces. She does not want to see the arts hub authority go the way of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which runs most of the city's parks. She says the department adopted a top-down style of management that killed citizens' sense of responsibility.
"There are increasing restrictions in public spaces," Wong said. In the long run, an excess of rules would turn Hongkongers into "disciplined citizens" taking orders from the top out of fear, and unable to take the initiative to be responsible for themselves.