The devil's in the detail: Hong Kong musicians alarmed at MTR's permit scheme for carrying large instruments on trains
A new permit issued by the MTR to allow large musical instruments to be carried on its trains contains "insulting" terms and poses problems for everything from insurance to rehearsal times, arts executives and musicians said yesterday.
The rail operator launched the trial scheme yesterday after a review following an outcry over cases of musicians being ordered off trains. People can apply for permits to carry instruments longer than 130cm, the usual maximum for luggage on the MTR, but no longer than 145cm.
Permit applications will take seven working days to process, but the outcry was instant.
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"The devil is in the detail, and I think it is a trap for anyone to sign and agree to the terms under the trial registration scheme," said Ada Wong Ying-kay, a solicitor-turned-arts-advocate and adviser to the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority.
One clause, for example, says MTR officials have the right to check the instrument and ask the permit holder to prove their identity. But, Wong said: "An instrument is the personal asset of an individual. He or she can allow anyone to borrow it or use it. No authority can deny that right.
"We really cannot allow a public transport provider to continue to insult people like this. If this logic is followed, all over-sized luggage must follow the same registration route which is of course absurd. We will be an international joke."
