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Written by: Lin Yingxian
2021-03-10 17:37
Last update date: 2021-03-10 17:38
Kwun Tong city centre began to be rebuilt in 2007, and it has been 14 years, but there are still shops and artisans who still refuse to accept the relocation plan of the Urban Renewal Authority to move into the Opposite Grand Mercure, threatening to keep their home business, and some antique watchmakers have not been issued Craftsman cards cannot be eligible for placement.
At present, there are still 3 merchants and two craftsmen who have failed to reach a consensus on the relocation plan with the URA. They will face the URA’s clearance operations on the 23rd of this month, or they will be closed down or removed from those who have persisted for decades. Ancestral industry.
The Kwun Tong spokesman who assisted the neighbourhood, Yuen Chi-jen, criticized that some neighbourhoods refused to relocate but were eventually taken away by the bailiff. The URA's attitude towards the last batch of neighbourhoods was not positive earlier, and was disappointed by this.
He worries that the shops in Yu Man Fang will be regarded as illegal structures, and the compensation will eventually be "not a mosquito."
He urged the URA to talk directly with the merchants and refer to the Nga Tsin Wai Village plan to resettle the neighborhood, and issue craftsman cards to the craftsmen in the district as soon as possible.
"Hong Kong 01" has inquired with the URA regarding the incident.
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Yufa Juice: Hope to keep the room
Dong Liping, the person in charge of Yuminfang Yufa Juice Shop, is 70 years old. She said that her husband bought into the store in 60 years and introduced Taiwanese juice to Hong Kong together with her, becoming the first fruit juice shop selling Taiwanese five green juice.
She recalled that after marriage, she worked silently with her husband in the shop, and raised her children and became talented throughout the year.
Her husband passed away a few years ago. She once choked up and said, "When he left, tell me to guard the shop" and "I don’t know how to do it." Her residence was taken back by the URA earlier. I want to keep the last memories with my husband.
She also pointed out that apart from recommending her to move back, the URA did not propose any other plans, but in any case, she only wanted to keep the juice shop and did not consider accepting any plans to move back.
When asked about the possibility of being forced to clear the court by the bailiff at the end of the month, she lamented that she was unable to think about any plans at the moment and felt uncertain about the future.
Mr. Xu sighed, "The URA rushed us, but I don't want to leave, I hope the same area will continue to do it", and guarded the family business left to him by his deceased father.
(Photo by Lu Yiming)
On Kee Leather: I hope I can "shop for shop"
An Kee Leather, which is adjacent to the juice store, is also facing the fate of demolition and forced relocation.
Mr. Xu, who inherited his father's business with his elder brother, also exchanged greetings with the old man who bought the belt this afternoon, choosing the right belt for the other party. The atmosphere is harmonious, which is rare in the indifference of the community.
He said that his father entered the store in 60 years as a purchasing agent. He has grown up here since he was a child. He has witnessed the rise and fall of Yuminfang. In recent years, one building after another landmark has been demolished, and he can't help but feel embarrassed.
He bluntly said, "Urban Renewal Authority drove us, but I don't want to leave, I hope that the original district will continue to do it." He works "10 to 12 nights" every day, only hoping to serve the neighbourhoods who love his old friends.
He went on to point out that the URA compensated more than 3 million yuan, but to move back to the new shopping mall, it would need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for decoration. The rent would easily be 10,000 or 20,000 yuan, and it had to match the shopping mall’s style. "The compensation is not enough for my retirement. , I’m surprised, the rent is expensive."
He hopes that he can "shop for shop" so that he can continue his original life and experience the changes in Kwun Tong with his neighbours.
She Yongsheng has not been issued a craftsman's license by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department so far, making him ineligible to be arranged to move into the permanent hawker market in the Kaihui Shopping Mall.
(Photo by Lu Yiming)
Watchmaker She Yongsheng: No craftsman's license can not be placed in the hawker market
She Yongsheng, a watchmaker who opened stalls at the corner of Yu Man Square, specializes in repairing antique watches. He has been in Kwun Tong for more than ten years. However, in recent years, the area has been rebuilt. He has been relocating stalls and can only settle next to the site.
Since 2009, he has discussed with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for the issuance of the artisan license. In the past 12 years, he has not made any progress so far, so that he is not eligible to be arranged to move into the permanent hawker market in the Kaihui Shopping Mall, and he is at a loss for the future.
Yuan Zhiren pointed out that after the redevelopment of Kwun Tong, these shop owners became tenants and criticized the URA’s rigorous relocation plan. Merchants had to pay half of the market rent. The rent ranged from 5,000 yuan to more than 20,000 yuan. Merchants cause a heavy burden.
He suggested that the authorities refer to the Nga Tsin Wai Village plan and collect a monthly rent of 600 yuan for the first three years, and then gradually increase it to 6,000 yuan for the next two years.
He also hopes that the authorities will issue craftsman cards to stall vendors and have the right to inherit so that the crafts can be passed on.
Merchants in Yumanfang are dissatisfied with compensation and refused to move.
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