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.