LiberalStudies IndependentEnquiry Study Report

1 Liberal Studies Independent Enquiry Study Report Project Title: Explore Whether the Mongkok Pedestrianisation is a Suitable Place for Street Performances. Class: Class Number: Page 1 of 68 Content Page 1. Introduction 2. Methodology 3. Literature Review 4. Findings and Analysis 5. Discussion 6. Conclusion 7. Recommendation 8. Reflection 9. References 10. Appendices Questionnaires distributed to the audience Interview transcripts of street performers Interview transcripts of shop owners Interview transcript of residents Observation Report Page 2 of 68 1. Introduction According to the Transport Department, the Mongkok Pedestrianisation was open in August 2000 in order to improve the safety and mobility of pedestrian in this busy shopping area1. he following areas are included in the Mongkok pedestrainisation: Nelson Street (between Sai Yeung Choi Street South and Fa Yuen Street), Sai Yeung Choi Street South (between Argyle Street and Dundas Street), Soy Street (between Sai Yeung Choi Street South and Fa Yuen Street) and Tung Choi Street (between Argyle Street and Dundas Street).

2 After the opening of the pedestrainisation, some people take the spaces to perform on the streets. It gradually becomes a place for street performers to perform. The implementation hours of the Mongkok Pedestrianisation have been reduced for several times since 2010 due to the noise and light nuisance to the nearby residents. Before 20 January 2014, the implementation hours are from 4:00 to 10:00 from Mondays to Saturdays, and from 12:00 to 10:00 on General Holidays. However, In the Traffic and Transport Committee meeting of the Yau Tsim Mong District Council on 21 November 2013, the committee members passed a motion reduce the implementation days of the Mongkok Pedestrianisation in order to minimize the nuisance to the residents. This shows the street performances are disturbing the residents' daily lives. Therefore, from 20 January 2014 onward, the implementation hours are from 4:00 to 10:00 on Saturdays, and from 12:00 to 10:00 on General Holidays.

3 The concerned road sections are opened for vehicular traffic from Monday to According to a professional street performer, Mr Andrew So Chun chau ( ), The street performances provide entertainment and bring happiness to the audience in [1] Transport Department, The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2013). Transport Department, Pedestrainisation. Retrieved from: . [2] Transport Department, The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2013). Transport Department, Pedestrainisation, Mongkok. Retrieved from : . Page 3 of 68 different income groups3. According to the spokesperson of the Home Affairs Bureau, some of the street performances have local cultural values and they are worthwhile to promote to the public4. The Mongkok Pedestriansation provides a area for carrying out street performances. Thus, there are quite a number of street performers and audience engages in street performances in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation.

4 However, such activities also bring negative impacts to other stakeholders. The residents and the shops nearby have complained about the impacts of the street performances on them. For example, according to the data from the Yau Tsim Mong District Council, they cause loud noise which disturbs the daily lives of the residents and the business of the shops nearby. The street performers and the audience also block the ways and threat the safety of the area, for example, the ambulance may not be able to pass by in urgent situation5. Therefore, whether the Mongkok Pedestrianisation is a suitable place for street performances is a controversial issue. The values of the street performances in that area and the interests of the residents and shops nearby should be considered when evaluating this issue. This project aims to explore whether the Mongkok Pedestrianisation is suitable for street performances in various aspects.

5 It will look into the needs and concern of the street performers, audience, the nearby residents and shops' views towards this issue. [3] Legislative Council (2008). Retrieved from : 08/chinese/panels/plw/papers/dev0531cb1 1681 4 [4] Press Releases (2010). LCQ2: Street performances. Retrieved from : . [5] District Councils (2013). 2012 2015 . Retrieved from : . Page 4 of 68 The following are the objectives of this research. First, I will find out the current situation of street performances in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation, the nature of different street performances, the background of and the street performers. Second, I will also find out the policies, rules and legislations related to street performing in Hong Kong. I will find out whether street performing is legal in Hong Kong and what the loopholes are in the law. Third, I will find out the different stakeholders' (the audience, residents and shops nearby) views towards the street performances in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation.

6 For example, how the residents and shops nearby complain about the street performances and what the audience's opinions towards the street performances are. Fourth, I will also find out the purposes of the street performers to perform in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation and their opinions towards the suitability to perform in this area. Fifth, I will gather different stakeholders' opinions on whether the current policies and rules can meet the demands of them and find out how the policies can be improved. After analyzing the data, I will evaluate whether the Mongkok Pedestrianisation is a suitable place for street performances by considering different stakeholders'. interests and concerns and find out what the ideal policies on the pedestrianisation are. Page 5 of 68 2. Methodology A) Questionnaire The target interviewees are the street performance audience. The questionnaire was distributed to anyone who has watched of street performances in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation.

7 Some of the questionnaires were distributed at school and some were distributed to the audience in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation. There were 62 respondents. The questionnaire asks about respondents' reasons for watching street performances, frequencies or habits in watching the performances, comments on the street performances, opinions towards the suitability of the Mongkok Pedestrianisation to carry out street performances and opinions towards the policies or rules in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation. B) Interview First, the data collection process includes interviews with four street performers. They are Mr. Tom Tong ( Tom) a singer, Ms Lau a dancer, Mr. Tang Ying Kit (Joe Ten) a painter and Mr. Lyson Sze ( ) a freestyle football player respectively. Street performers engage in different kinds of performances were asked so as to understand different kinds of performers' situations and needs.

8 These performers are more popular among the performers (there are more audience observing their performances) so they are more representative. They were asked about the habits of performing in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation, the purposes of performing and their opinions towards the policies or rules in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation. Second, the data collection process includes interviews with two shop owners or staff in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation. They were asked about the impacts caused by the street performances to their business and the opinions towards the policies or rules of the Mongkok Pestrianisation Third, the data collection process includes interviews with four residents living nearby the Mongkok Pedestrianisation. They were asked about the impacts caused by the street performances to their daily lives and the opinions towards the policies or rules in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation.

9 Page 6 of 68 C) Site Visits To Study the current situation and the impacts of the street performances in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation, I visited the Mongkok Pedestrianisation for seven times on 25 January, 8 February, 23 February, 22 March, 12 April, 19 April and 10 May 2014. These days are chosen because the Mongkok Pedestrianisation is opened these days. I usually arrive there at 7:00 and leave at 10:00 This is because I think there is larger pedestrian flow and more performances after dinner time so that I can understand the situation in the Mongkok Pedestrianisation more thoroughly. Moreover, I stay there until 10 to find out the difference I observed the number and varieties of street performances; the number, age and behaviours of the audience. I also observed when the street performers start and end their performances, and evaluated the noise level, hygienic condition and congestion level in the Mongkok Limitation It is difficult to arrange for interviewing more residents in that area because the residents were not willing to be interviewed.

10 Four residents are quite representative to reflect the opinions of the residents living in the Mongkok Pedestriansation because they are actually living in the same area. Many of the shops in Mongkok Pedestrianisation are chain stores and their front line sales person may not know about the effect on sales with the present of street performance. They can only comment on change in number of customers or visitors by feeling but without solid back up data. Their store managers also refused to disclose if the sales is affected. Only two small stores whose owners and staff were more open to the interview. Page 7 of 68 3. Literature Review According to the Transport Department, the Mongkok pedestrainisation was open in August 2000. It is a Part time Pedestrian Street. In part time pedestrian streets, vehicular access is only allowed in specific periods. The following areas are included in the Mongkok pedestrainisation: Nelson Street (between Sai Yeung Choi Street South and Fa Yuen Street), Sai Yeung Choi Street South (between Argyle Street and Dundas Street), Soy Street (between Sai Yeung Choi Street South and Fa Yuen Street) and Tung Choi Street (between Argyle Street and Dundas Street)1.