Expected noise pollution forces KCRC to book Cultural Centre for two months
The KCRC plans to book the entire Cultural Centre for two months to avoid disrupting daytime performances after major construction work on the Kowloon Southern Link begins in September.
State-of-the-art tunnelling methods, to be used in the city for the first time, will pass through the area and are also expected to cause major traffic disruptions in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui during the 18-month construction phase.
Performers at the Cultural Centre, some of whom are known to demand the centre switch off air-conditioning during performances, believe such disturbances at the city's main theatre and concert venue will be unacceptable.
Anticipating these concerns, the KCRC has booked out all the venue's daytime slots for two months, as KCRC senior director Lee Kang-kuen told legislators yesterday.
'We scheduled our work in the morning because most major performances are carried out at night, and we will try our best to avoid working on their busy nights,' Mr Lee said, when reporting to the Legco Transport Panel on the project's progress.
If the KCRC pays the centre's going rates for full daytime functions - at a maximum rental of $28,300 a day - booking the centre for two months could cost the rail operator as much as $1.7 million.
