Open space should be designed for all to enjoy

For inhabitants of a city that lives by the jackhammer, Hongkongers can be surprisingly intolerant of noise. One result of this is that Hong Kong Stadium, in So Kon Po, tends to miss out on big musical events because of restrictions on noise levels imposed after complaints from local residents.

A Michael Jackson concert was once cancelled after the government famously suggested that the audience listen through headphones and wear gloves to muffle applause.

The current dispute between Tuen Mun residents and street musicians and their fans is also about noise complaints, in this case over the sound of the music they make in Tuen Mun Park. The park attracts elderly musicians at weekends who often draw large crowds. Though hardly comparable with the Michael Jackson fiasco, the dispute does raise issues about the planning and use of parks and open space in Hong Kong generally.

The dearth of open space designed for the common enjoyment of a dense urban population is rooted in history. The demand for living space took precedence. Furthermore, open space was seen as attractive to illegal hawking - a problem that has now been brought under control - and other undesirable activities. As a result, our open spaces tended to be both inadequate and not user friendly.

The development of new towns such as Tuen Mun, and large-scale urban redevelopment, offers an opportunity for a fresh start, with innovative open-space ideas that provide for a diversity of harmless recreational activities while taking into account the interests of residents.

It should be possible, for example, to design an area for street performers that is visually and acoustically inoffensive to local residents and other park users.