CANTO-POP star Alan Tam Wing-lun's concert last night at the Hong Kong Stadium was muted in an effort to avoid cancellation of his shows tonight and tomorrow, but measurements by residents showed noise still exceeded the legal level. Tens of thousands of ticket-holders for the remaining shows must wait until this morning for a decision by the Urban Council on whether the concerts can go ahead. Councillors will vote at an extraordinary meeting at 10 am after considering noise measurements taken last night - the start of the three-day series drawing more than 70,000 people. United Democrats of Hong Kong Wan Chai District Board member Susanna Yeung Wan-king said last night she had recorded sound levels higher than the permitted 65 decibels in the first hour of the concert. At villages around the stadium the noise from the musicians was as high as 66 and 68 decibels, she said, but the cheering and applause pushed it up into the range of 78 to 82 decibels. Tam took to the stage with a warning that the crowd ''should not enjoy themselves too much because shouting could cause a lot of noise'' - but he was met by booing and hooting. A fan who bought the most costly $350 ticket claimed she could hardly hear the star sing or talk from her 15th-row seat. Others left early, fed up with having to strain to hear. Pressure mounted yesterday to cancel the concerts after noise during a rehearsal breached the permitted level. Stadium manager Wembley International now faces a court summons and a maximum $50,000 fine. The concert producer, Peter Chan Wing-ko, said last night that Wembley had asked him to sign an agreement before the show that the noise level inside the stadium should not exceed 80 decibels. Mr Chan said he did not sign the agreement because it would have violated an earlier agreement between Wembley and promoter Yiu Wing, allowing a maximum noise level inside the stadium of 96 decibels. ''To limit the noise level to 80 decibels is impossible for a good show,'' he said. Singer Tam said the whole issue had been politicised with ''legislators vying to fight for the rights of residents''. ''Maybe they think this is a good chance to show that they are helpful,'' he said. ''I feel sorry for the audience because the concert could have been better,'' Tam said, adding the noise limit set was not fair to the customers and himself. The Urban Council has set up a hotline on 868-0000 for ticket-holders, while announcements of whether Tam's other two shows will go ahead will be made on radio and television. Residents of flats near the stadium said the noise from previous concerts was so disruptive they could no longer put up with it. ''It's not music, it's just like having someone banging a drum beside you for two or three hours,'' said Mak Yau-kay.
