Kwun Tong Redevelopment｜The hawkers in the alleys are resettled at the "Yue Man Market" Unregistered craftsmen worry about where to go

District 18 News

Written by: Zeng Fengting

2021-03-16 21:41

Last update date: 2021-03-16 23:11

It has been 14 years since the Kwun Tong City Centre Redevelopment Project was launched. Many businesses have already moved out, but some craftsmen still don’t know where to go.

The latest document from the Kwun Tong District Council revealed that 16 street hawkers affected by the redevelopment have been registered as licensed hawkers. The department will arrange for them to choose to move into the new "Yu People Market" or continue to do business in the back lanes. Some shoemakers said that the market was weak, and they had been stalling on the street, not knowing how to choose. They hoped the department would elaborate on the relocation arrangements. Some watchmakers said that they missed registration when they were not in Hong Kong and worried that they would be driven away by the department as unlicensed hawkers. Hope to register for licensing as soon as possible.

The URA launched the Kwun Tong redevelopment plan in 2007. In the fifth phase of the redevelopment plan, most of the shops and residents of Yue Man Square moved out one after another. At that time, there were still some street artisans who had been operating for many years in Yue Man Square but were not issued. Has repeatedly sought to be registered on the list from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

According to the latest document submitted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the Kwun Tong District Council on the redevelopment of Kwun Tong today (16th), as of the end of February this year, a total of 16 street vendors affected by the redevelopment project have registered with the FEHD as fixed stall holders. Brand hawkers, they are mainly engaged in hawker types such as wall stalls, hairdressers, newspapers and craftsmen. They are distributed in Hong Ning Road, Ngau Tau Kok Road, Yuet Wah Street, Yi'an Street, Wuhua Street, Chongren Street, Yunhan Street and Fu Yan Street, etc. The operation in side streets and narrow lanes is not ideal, and environmental hygiene problems arise.

The FEHD stated that in order to improve the environmental hygiene in the back lanes of the area, after a detailed review of the business environment of the hawker locations, it is recommended to make a one-time relocation arrangement, and 16 licensed hawkers can be relocated to the "Yu Min Bazaar" to continue. To operate, the FEHD will meet with the 16 licensed hawkers mentioned above to confirm their intention to relocate.

All licensed hawkers who have accepted the relevant relocation plan will allocate new stalls for them in accordance with the usual procedures so that they can continue to operate in the "Yumin Market" in accordance with relevant laws and license conditions.

Shoemaker worries that after entering the shop, the competitiveness is not as good as before

Fusao, a shoemaker who has been in business for more than 30 years in Yumanfang, is known as the master of fighting and squeezing. In January last year, he successfully obtained a craftsman's license. The license was issued in the back alley of Kangning Road, and then moved into the back alley for just one week. Inside, the tools for making money and the shoes that the guests entrusted to repair suddenly disappeared. After inquiring with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the outsourced cleaning company, both parties also denied that they were related to the incident and were unable to sustain their livelihoods. Later, they were funded by kind citizens to provide money. Tools, coupled with the fact that the incident had a great social repercussions, it was finally arranged by the government to operate a shop at Yue Man Square facing Kwun Tong Road (that is, next to the public light bus terminus to Lam Tin).

Having operated in Yu Man Fang for more than 30 years, the licensed hawker Fu Sao was temporarily placed next to the public light bus terminus towards Lam Tin.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

Fu Sao pointed out that in November last year, the staff of the URA informed her that she could move to the Yumin Market in the future. The above-mentioned shop will be taken back in mid-April this year. If she does not agree, she will have the chance to be taken back again. Arrange to the back alley.

She is concerned about the performance of moving into the market. She is worried that the old business model of repairing shoes on the street will be difficult to replicate in the shop. In addition, after entering the shop, the rent will be paid on a monthly basis. It is inevitable that the cost will be increased to subsidize the cost, which will weaken the competitiveness of the business in disguise. If you don’t move to continue doing business in the back alleys, and you are afraid of recurring the loss of your wealth-generating tools, you are still considering it. "Always, if you charge high prices, people will naturally go to other flat shoe stalls. There will be fewer customers and the income will be better. Less.” She pointed out that the market was poor when it appeared, and it was impossible to predict the business situation after moving into the bazaar. She hoped that the government department could explain the relevant arrangements in detail.

Watchmaker's application for a license has not been answered for many years

Another watchmaker, Mr. She, who set up stalls near Yu Man Square and has not yet been licensed, said that when the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department conducted a Hong Kong-wide survey of craftsmen in 2009, he happened to be out of Hong Kong, so he was not registered that year. In the list, it is still an unlicensed hawker.

She Sheng, another Dong watchmaker who is stalling near Yuminfang, has yet to receive a license.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

He said that an FEHD officer called earlier this year, claiming that he would confirm his identity and licensing information, but the officer did not disclose when the license will be issued. There has been no news so far. Seeing that other artisans will move into the Yumin Market soon, yes. I am worried about where he will go in the future. At this stage, I can only "see the steps" and set up stalls to and from different locations in Yu Man Square every day. I urge the government to issue a license as soon as possible so that he can find a place to stay and continue to do business as a watchmaker.

The chairman of the Kwun Tong District Council, Tsai Chak-hung, pointed out that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department mentioned in the Food, Environment and Hygiene Committee today (16th) that the department will continue to find registered licensed hawkers to explain the relocation arrangements, stressing that they will be allowed to choose whether to relocate. Go to the market or stay at the same place.

If the hawker is willing to relocate to the market, he only needs to pay the license fee once a year. The fee depends on the type of license, and the amount is about 6000 yuan per year.

Cai Zehong believes that the FEHD resettlement plan may not be suitable for every licensed hawker.

He explained: "There are newspaper stalls on the street. People are used to patronizing them at designated locations. If they move into the market, they are not suitable. On the contrary, a barber hawker would be better in terms of hygiene after moving into the shop."

Regarding the unlicensed craftsmen, Cai Zehong said that he has been actively communicating with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and the Department has not refused to re-register in the list in the future.

After he reflected on the issue again in today's meeting, the department said that it would continue to follow up, and no further arrangements are currently available.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department stated that it would continue to find licensed hawkers to explain the relocation arrangements, stressing that they will be allowed to choose whether to move to the market or stay at the original location.

The FEHD also stated that if the hawkers relocate to the market, they only need to pay the license fee once a year. Depending on the type of license, the fee is about 6,000 yuan.

(Photo courtesy of Yue Man Square (YM2))

Since the commencement of the Kwun Tong district redevelopment project, more than 100 stalls of licensed fixed hawkers have moved from the Wuhua Street Temporary Market to the temporary Tongren Market in 2017. After the completion of the mall "YM2", it will be relocated next month according to the original plan. Continue to operate in the brand new "Yue Man Hawker Bazaar".

There are 135 vacant stalls in the "Yue Man Bazaar", which are large enough to accommodate 113 licensed hawkers affected by the redevelopment and 16 licensed street vendors who have been registered by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and affected by the redevelopment of Kwun Tong.

In addition, the mall "YM2" has a special "Yue Man Lane", which will invite small shops relocated due to the redevelopment plan to resume business on the site, selling daily necessities, clothing, classic snacks and household services.

Kwun Tong City Centre Grand Plaza Mall named "Yue Man Square", covering an area of ​​more than 350,000 square feet

New shopping malls in the second and third development areas of Kwun Tong will be reopened in April next year and 15 households will resume business in "Yu Man Lane"

Kwun Tong Yuman Square, on March 23, cleared the premises, merchants approved the URA's relocation plan, sternly pledged to defend their family business

18 District News Kwun Tong Kwun Tong Community Redevelopment and Redevelopment