Civic Party Moots New Plan To Save Pedestrian Zone

The Civic Party announced a proposal on Friday to regulate street performances at a pedestrian zone in Mong Kok, as it tries to stop the area from being reopened to traffic.

Yau Tsim Mong District Council last week voted to end the pedestrian area encompassing Sai Yeung Choi Street South and nearby roads following years of noise complaints from residents.

The zone had been reserved for pedestrians since 2000 but the vehicle ban was limited to just weekends and public holidays from 2014.

The Civic party said that on Sunday afternoon, it will set up three performance areas on Sai Yeung Choi Street South, asking buskers and other performers to queue up if they want to show off their skills there. There will also be a time limit for performances.

Japanese singer "Mr Wally", robot dancer Henry Chan and rope skipping champion Timothy Ho had agreed to take part in the experiment, the party said.

Civic Party councillor Andy Yu said he hopes to show the government that the pedestrian zone does not have to be scrapped.

"We have two purposes, one purpose is giving pressure to the government that if they implement the regulation then the complaints from the people will be handled," he told RTHK's Timmy Sung.

"Another purpose is to mobilise the street performers to join the regulation system."