But singing groups unhappy with plan for designated area with no amplification
Quiet performances such as mime and yoga will be introduced to Tuen Mun Park on weekends as part of a government plan to resolve the conflict between elderly music lovers and residents, who complain their singing is too noisy.
And a plan to introduce a 'self-entertainment zone', where singing or musical groups can perform once they have registered, is under consideration.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will provide the quiet entertainment free in response to public demand for entertainment in the park, assistant director Eddy Yau Kwok-yin said.
The department will arrange programmes 'which would not cause noise annoyance, such as mime, recitation, storytelling and acoustic music like folk songs'.
The plans were proposed during a meeting yesterday between LCSD officials, Tuen Mun district councillors and singer representatives.
But if the 'self-entertainment zone' is approved, Mr Yau insisted no external amplifiers would be allowed, drawing criticism from some performers. Seventy-three-year-old saxophonist Lee Kam-fook, who attended the meeting, said the external amplifier ban missed the point. 'All we wanted from the meeting was for the LCSD to clearly tell us how many decibels would be too loud. They couldn't, or wouldn't, tell us,' Mr Lee said.