An MTR passenger in Hong Kong was charged with vandalism for cutting up the rubber edge of the doors on the subway, apparently because he thought the station announcements were too loud.

The 45-year-old technician was caught in July, after MTR staff discovered 73 damaged doors dating back to June 2005.

The man's lawyer said the defendant was under great pressure because of a part-time computer course he was taking. After studying late into the night, the man wanted to nap on the way to work, but the repeated MTR station announcements disturbed him.

(Ming Pao)