Community topics
Written by: Zeng Fengting and Cai Zhengbang
2021-04-30 10:00
Last update date: 2021-04-30 10:00
As the fourth and fifth development areas of the Kwun Tong Redevelopment Project are ready for construction, most of the street vendors and small shops in the area have been relocated or resettled.
However, the hawkers near the old bus station in Yuminfang have a long way to go. Due to the reconstruction project, they have to move out of the original location in June. Some stall owners are very hesitant, saying bluntly that they will be driven away wherever they move, and they will lose their chance of survival. .
Some concerned groups said that in the early years, government departments offered to help arrange for the affected stall owners to obtain a permanent position, but now that they are moving away soon, the promise has not been fulfilled.
Thirteen stalls are located near the old bus stop at Yu Man Square, Kwun Tong. They mainly sell fashion, underwear, handbags and jade.
They set up stalls on Fu Yan Street in the early years, and later relocated in response to the development of Kwun Tong. In 2014, they moved to their current location under the coordination of government departments.
At the beginning of April, Yumin Shopping Mall officially opened, and the minibuses and bus stops on the ground were also moved under the mall. The "hoarded besieged city" began nearby. The demolition of the surrounding area is about to begin, but the whereabouts of the hawkers have not been arranged.
Dai Tai, 67, who has been selling children's clothing for more than 30 years, set up stalls on Furen Street in his early years. After moving to the vicinity of the old bus station, the stalls will open every day at 7 o'clock in the morning.
She pointed out that after the relocation of the bus station in Kwun Tong redevelopment, business fell by half, and there was only a slight flow of people around the peak working hours in the morning, and it would become sparse after 10 o'clock.
Tai Tai bluntly felt hesitated about the upcoming relocation due to redevelopment projects. Although the 13 hawkers all have mobile hawker licenses, they should be able to find new positions, but she pointed out that the actual environment is not like this. , (Shihuan) is already going to drive you away, if you want to move around and walk around, there is no place to show you!"
"If you want to move, you don't know you can move it, and you don't know when it will be sealed, and you don't even know you can order it."
Itinerant hawker Dai Tai
Tai Tai laments that it is difficult to find a new place for business, and hopes that a group of hawkers can be allowed to relocate in the same area or move to the Xinyumin Market to continue their stalls.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
Mrs. Dai is worried that even if he finds a location to relocate, he will not be able to secure a source of customers.
She pointed out that most of the hawkers do business with regular customers, and they can only store customers in one place for a long time. "If you hold a cart (mobile cart) and walk around, will anyone buy it?" Tai Tai was also worried. I don’t know when I can move it, and I’m afraid I don’t know when it will be closed, and I don’t know how to deal with it."
She hopes that a group of hawkers can be allowed to be resettled in the same area, or moved to the Xinyumin Market to continue their stalls.
Mr. Liang, who has been a hawker for nearly 40 years and sells jeans, feels that there is no way to move away from the current location, and frankly only sees walking.
Mr. Leung pointed out that due to the relocation of the bus station, the flow of people has decreased and business has been greatly affected.
He said that he received news that the stalls can only be set up until June, and felt helpless. "Every stall owner in Yijia is over 60 years old. I hope that there can be a place for placement. At least it’s stable. Don’t watch the weather. Sun and rain".
He also revealed that although the move is imminent, no government personnel have ever discussed their future with them.
Mr. Liang, who has been a hawker for nearly 40 years and sells jeans, feels that there is no way to move away from the current location, and frankly only sees walking.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
Neighbors say itinerant hawkers are unique to Hong Kong
The guest Mrs. Zhang felt sorry for the hawker's relocation, and believed that the hawker had value. "It is relatively flat and honest, and the texture of the shirt is not wrong."
Zhang Tai said that they have been operating in this location for many years, and they have left many unforgettable memories with the neighbourhood, and clearly stated that if they are still operating nearby, they will continue to patronize.
She believes that itinerant hawkers are unique to Hong Kong. "It looks like there were food stalls in Central in the past, where you can eat and open a night market. I think it will help Hong Kong's tourism industry a lot and provide one more choice."
The guest Mrs. Zhang felt pity that the hawker was about to relocate, and believed that the hawker had value.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
Fung Ping-tak, the person in charge of living in Kwun Tong who has been concerned about the situation of hawkers, said that the authorities are expected to completely enclose the area for construction in June, but the government has never made new arrangements for mobile hawkers, only urging them to find new places.
He pointed out that in theory mobile licenses can indeed be mobile, but it is absolutely difficult for hawkers to find a suitable location on their own.
In the early years, the Food and Environmental Protection Department and the URA used to temporarily operate hawkers in the old district. The then officials promised to assist the hawkers in finding new locations, but now there is no news.
The person in charge of living in Kwun Tong, Fung Ping-tak, said that the Food and Environmental Protection Department and the URA had temporarily operated hawkers in the old districts, and the then officials had promised to assist the hawkers in finding alternative locations, but there is no follow-up.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
In the past, Feng Bingde suggested to the government department to temporarily set stalls for hawkers in the idle space around the new shopping mall. "Because they only use the stalls for a few hours, they will be closed at 7 o'clock in the morning and 12 o'clock in the morning. In fact, everyone can coordinate. , But the department needs to be willing to help him solve the problem."
He also believes that every time hawkers respond to reconstruction and relocation, their livelihoods will be affected. Therefore, the government cannot shirk its responsibility and should provide resettlement arrangements as soon as possible.
Feng Bingde believes that every time hawkers respond to reconstruction and relocation, their livelihoods will be affected. Therefore, the government cannot shirk its responsibility and should provide resettlement arrangements as soon as possible.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
He also pointed out that although the hawker industry is declining, it plays an important role in the community and witnesses the growth of the entire community. It should not disappear easily. "When the neighborhood sees that it can operate in the original location, it will feel that the community network has not been disintegrated. ".
The maintenance of the community network is precisely the core value of the URA during its reconstruction work, and it is believed that the URA has the responsibility to preserve this culture.
FEHD: Hawkers can sell on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon
Regarding the issue of the 13 unplaced hawkers, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department replied that according to the Hawker Regulations, holders of mobile hawker licenses who do not have fixed stalls can place orders on their licenses without obstructing the passage. It is sold in a mobile form in the Ming area.
Licensed itinerant hawkers must ensure that their stalls or other equipment used in the course of their business do not hinder or interfere with the free movement of vehicle traffic or pedestrians, otherwise it is illegal.
Regarding the licensed mobile hawkers who are habitually hawking in the Kwun Tong district, the Department stated that they can hawk them in the urban areas, namely Hong Kong Island and various districts in Kowloon.
Regarding licensed mobile hawkers who violate the regulations, the Department stated that under normal circumstances, the Hawker Team will issue verbal warnings to the hawkers who are obstructing the street.
If the verbal warning is invalid, the personnel will take enforcement actions according to normal procedures.
According to records, from April 2020 to March this year, the department has made more than 800 prosecutions against licensed mobile hawkers for obstruction and other violations. Activities take appropriate action.
In response to enquiries, the URA pointed out that hawkers who hold a mobile hawker license issued by the FEHD will be handled by the FEHD in accordance with its licensed mobile hawker policy.
Kwun Tong reconstruction.
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Kwun Tong Redevelopment｜Bus and minibus stations moved into shopping malls and minibus drivers led Yulan culture on the verge of disappearing
Kwun Tong Redevelopment｜Tong Yan Street Hawker Market moved to Kaihui
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Kwun Tong Kwun Tong Community Old District Redevelopment Redevelopment Community Redevelopment Hawker
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