Still banging the drum: Hong Kong musicians to press ahead with railway protest despite MTR pledge to review rules on instruments

Musicians will press ahead with plans to protest at an MTR station to demand the right to take large instruments on trains, despite a pledge from the rail operator to review its rules on bulky items.

Mavis Lung, a Chinese percussion teacher who came up who launched the protest plan via a post on Facebook, said it was not clear that the review – announced on Friday amid an outcry over music students being ordered off trains – would result in a change of policy. The urged the MTR to exercise discretion and allow instruments onboard until the review was completed.

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“Many students must still take the MTR to venues now,” Lung told Commercial Radio today. Calling off the event would be “difficult, as there have been no promises” from the railway operator.

 Lung set up a Facebook page for the event, called “Let’s bring our musical instruments to take the MTR” after three music students were blocked from boarding trains because their instruments measured more than 130cm – the maximum allowed on trains. The MTR’s actions sparked an outcry across the musical community – including condemnation from the city’s leading professional orchestras.

 Despite the MTR’s promise on Friday of a review, more than 3,500 people had signed up to attend Lung’s event, which has been set for Tai Wai MTR station on Saturday evening.