Blacklist looms for performers

2019.05.08

LEGAL advice is being sought for compiling a blacklist of performers who repeatedly break rules in parks.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD, 康文署) is suggesting amendments to the Pleasure Grounds Regulation (遊樂場地規例) to strengthen law enforcement in parks.
Director Michelle Li Mei-sheung (李美嫦) said it is controversial whether legal action should be taken against repeat offenders, and the department is consulting the Department
of Justice (律政署) on this.
Meanwhile, a Legislative Council panel passed a nonbinding motion, calling on the government to amend the law to tackle the problem of performers pocketing lai see from
onlookers.
Lawmakers also want harsher penalties for performers who sing too loudly in parks.
Li said the department would consider setting up a blacklist, as well as the feasibility of giving penalty tickets to performers multiple times on the same day. It also intends
to hire people with disciplined services backgrounds to act as security staff in parks and ask the police for help.
Lawmaker Edward Lau Kwok-fan (劉國勳) supported the amendment, and said “there are a lot of complaints”, especially from residents near Tuen Mun Park (屯門公園) and Hoi Sham
Park (海心公園) in To Kwa Wan (土瓜灣).
But there were only two cases of successful prosecution in the past three years, he said.