Democrats Want Licences For Street Performers

Democratic Party lawmaker Helena Wong says the government needs to introduce a licensing regime to regulate street performers at pedestrian zones.

Her call comes after the Yau Tsim Mong District Council voted to axe the pedestrian area in Mong Kok amid rising complaints from local residents and shop owners of nuisance and noise pollution.

Speaking to reporters after attending a radio programme on Saturday, Wong said that while street performances add to the vibrancy of the city, the performers' conduct needs to be regulated.

Wong said that in an urban society there was pressure to allocate a public space for artists.

"But we also need (a) regulatory regime involving different departments to ensure that different stakeholders, including the artists and the residents (and) the owners of the shops nearby can respect the rights of each other," Wong said, calling on the government to bring in a licensing regime.