Hong Kong musicians oppose MTR ban on large instruments with one voice

Imminent showdown in Tai Wai station today as thousands back call to oppose ban on carrying large musical instruments onto trains

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Hong Kong musicians oppose MTR ban on large instruments with one voice

Published: 12:00am, 3 Oct 2015Updated: 2:44am, 3 Oct 2015

Musicians gave mixed responses to a rallying call for a protest at the East Rail Line but were resolute in their stand against an MTR ban on large music instruments, as the railway giant prepared for the showdown today.

More than 3,500 had signed up to a Facebook campaign, "Let's bring our musical instruments to take the MTR", taking place at Tai Wai station since Mavis Lung, a teacher of the , a Chinese string instrument, posted her call online last week.

Lung launched the campaign after a series of expulsions of students from railway premises for carrying "oversized" music instruments.

"We will express ourselves freely, such as playing the instruments or singing, inside or outside the station," she said yesterday. "We want to re-assert the very same right of travelling with our instruments just like before.

"I hope the participants would not get too agitated; I have confidence in the self-discipline of musicians in expressing themselves."

The young player at the centre of the storm, Baptist University student Calvin Ho Ka-yeung, said he would not take part despite getting a warning letter and being expelled from the MTR last week for carrying a cello in a case that exceeded the 130cm limit by 4cm.