Dear Editor,
I would like to talk about the arguments of for and against having more regulations on busking and what my standpoint is toward such issue.
There is no doubt that there is an increasing number of buskers in Hong Kong. Busking is gaining more popularity and trends to become a unique culture in Hong Kong. Nowadays, you can see buskers everywhere especially the busy regions like Mongkok, Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay. Nonetheless, there are people holding an opposing view including the citizens living near the performance areas, the buskers and the shop owners. They would demand for more regulations on busking. To me, I share the view on having more regulations.
One of the numerous parties demanding more restrictions is residents who live near the hub of the popular performing regions. It is said that busking is irritating and annoying as buskers often perform loud music on street even at midnight. The residents nearby think that busking should be banned after 10 p.m. or in the morning. Some even suggest the abolishment of busking for ever as busking brings lots of nuisance to them. They add that busking is not just annoying but also brings harms to their physical and mental health severely. The residents complain that they cannot sleep well at night and suffer from serious insomnia because of the loud music or noise from busking.
Another party who demand for more regulations is shop owners. Busking might affect the business of the shops seriously since people find it hard to enter their shops to do shopping if buskers are performing near or in front of their shops. The performances attract lots of audiences but at the same time block the pavement, induce heavy traffic and bring much disturbance to the shops. The lax restrictions are so ineffective that busking keeps annoying the shops and the residents nearby.
However, some buskers also demand more regulations on busking. As there are more and more buskers, busking by different groups of people simultaneously disturb one another, who also play music on the streets. It is unavoidable that buskers have to compete for performing areas. The mixture of different music become disturbance and unbearable noise to audience. Worse still, conflicts and disputes might arise among buskers themselves.
Despite the great urge for more busking regulations, we should never neglect the views from the opposite side. Some people are worried that having more regulations on busking might suppress the civil rights of citizens. Also, some think that it might hinder the development of the local busking culture. However, a more comprehensive restricted license system might definitely ease the problem instead of acting as a sort of censorship.
Busking is a double-edged sword. It can bring both pros and cons. Therefore, to alleviate the problem, there should be more stricter regulations on busking to avoid unnecessary conflicts among different parties. It is a good measure to preserve the civil rights. By limiting the noise level of street performers, social harmony can be maintained. It is high time the government introduce more regulations to maintain busking while providing a comfortable living environment for the citizens.
Yours faithfully,
Chris Wong
Wan Chai