LEUNG KWOK-CHUNG and his friends have pushed their trolleys of musical instruments to their usual spot, a semi-circular corner by the pond in Tuen Mun Park.
Moments after they strike up, at about 3pm on a weekday, the informal band have attracted an audience of about 50 people. Some clap in time to the music; others sing along. An old man in a flowery shirt slowly dances through the crowd, while a couple perform an elegant demonstration of the waltz.
Dozens of such neighbourhood ensembles have sprung up in parks across the New Territories in recent years. Many residents view the rise of this park culture as a natural extension of the city's ageing population, an outlet for the growing number of elderly with time on their hands. Some district councillors, however, attribute it to the influence of mainland migrants - such park activity is common over the border.
Music isn't the only attraction at these get-togethers. Whether in the form of weekend singalongs beside the Shing Mun River at Sha Tin, an early morning chorus in Tuen Mun's Butterfly Beach, or Sunday concerts in parks from Yuen Long to Kwun Tong, the groups have become vital forms of assembly that nurture a community spirit among often-alienated new town residents.
Besides the obvious attractions of fresh air and a green, relaxing environment, they give residents the opportunity to strike up easy conversations, join the singing, or perform as the mood takes them, but without the pressure of having to fit into an organisation.
With about 10 groups springing up in the past four years, Tuen Mun Park has the liveliest music scene. No one's sure when the amateur musicians first started performing, but elderly saxophonist Lee Kam-fook reckons he's the pioneer. 'I was the first and only one,' Lee says. 'In 1981, I started playing accordion in the park. Several others soon followed me.'