Street performers accused of bringing chaos to Mong Kok pedestrian zone
Mong Kok road attracts musicians, actors activists and salespeople. But those working and living nearby have had enough of the noise
Mong Kok's jammed pedestrian precinct is descending into chaos due to a proliferation of street performers, people living and working nearby say.
The performers - as well as political activists and people promoting internet or mobile phone services - are busting noise limits and blocking the flow of pedestrians in Sai Yeung Choi Street South, locals say.
The situation has prompted the Yau Tsim Mong District Council to ask the Home Affairs Department to launch a consultation on reducing the days on which the street is closed to traffic. The number of hours it is closed for has already been cut.
At present, the street is closed to vehicles from 4pm to 10pm from Monday to Saturday and from noon to 10pm on Sundays and public holidays. The department, with the help of students from Shue Yan University, is consulting the public on three options: keeping the status quo; restricting pedestrianisation to Fridays and Saturdays or restricting it to Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
But Yau Tsim Mong district councillor Chris Ip Ngo-tung said the problem was not just the hours; the law was limited when it came to restricting performances and promotional activities on the streets.
While the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's inspectors can act against illegal hawkers under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, "promotional activities could hardly be considered businesses like hawkers as there are no trades nor cash transactions involved," Ip said.