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Niki Law

As Hong Kong launched its biggest annual arts event last night, performers and cinema owners backed suggestions that inconsiderate mobile phone users be fined for interrupting public shows.

Their comments follow a decision by the New York City Council earlier this week to ban the use of mobile phones at public performances as well as in museums, libraries and galleries. Offenders face US$50 (HK$390) fines.

According to Melvin Chan Kam-sun, vice-president of the Hong Kong Performing Artistes' Guild, copying the move could deter mobile phone users from talking during performances.

'People do not exercise common sense by turning their phones on to the vibrating function. Imposing a fine raises awareness of the issue and makes it seem more serious,' Mr Chan said.

His comments came upon the launch of the Hong Kong Arts Festival last night.

Arts administrator Phyllis Sio Ieng-ieng added that people would abide by phone bans if they were threatened with a fine.

Under New York's new rules, people talking on mobile phones, dialling, listening or having their phone ring just once at a performance could be fined. The ban takes effect in two months.

Golden Harvest Entertainment, which operates seven cinemas, offered to help enforce the ban if the government moved first. 'Audiences will be more careful about using mobile phones in the theatre if there is a fine. I think people will regulate themselves just as they stopped smoking in theatres after the ban was implemented,' said promotions manager Tony To Wai-tung. 'If the government does make the move, we will inform our staff to call the police when they see people using mobile phones.'

But Derek Yee Tung-sing, president of the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild, doubted whether fines would stop the electronic renderings of Greensleeves, Waltzing Matilda and Jingle Bells.

'People who cannot exercise self-discipline and show respect for performers will not change because of a fine. Theatres should just install jammers that block out their signals,' he said.

Margaret Yan Hui, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, said people should be thrown out of the venue instead of being fined. 'The culprits should be asked to leave.'

Although the Telecommunications Authority plans to issue a consultation paper on the use of electronic devices to jam signals in venues later this year, the government is reluctant to impose bans.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which runs 13 venues including the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, said that a ban could not be enforced.

'In a dark venue it is very difficult to search and find the mobile phone culprit. By the time you reach him, he may already have hung up,' a department spokeswoman said. 'So at the moment we are not considering implementing legislation to ban the use of mobile phones.'

Graphic: MBAN15GET

Graphic: FESTGWK



Could fines win a quiet victory over rude theatre phone users?