Beijing: Several flower merchants, pleaders, and others have gone against the government revamp plant to a famous Hong Kong flower market, saying that the renovation is likely to reduce the tourists’ attraction towards the flower market. Flower Market Concern Group and NGO Liber Research Community voiced their criticism days before the Town Planning Board is expected to conclude its two-month consultation on the overhaul of Mong Kok’s market on Wednesday.
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) plans to upgrade 31 buildings aged between 64 and 76 years, affecting about 275 households and 33 ground-floor shops at the market. The site at Sai Yee Street and Prince Edward Road West is set to become a residential and commercial complex with up to 44 storeys, providing 1,350 flats.
Enya Wong, a member of the concern group and a manager at one of the affected flower shops, said the plan failed to consider the market’s unique culture, noting that the complex could “completely destroy the hub and the spirit of the market.”
The new redevelopment plan will turn the flower market into an area devoid of character,” she said, expressing hope that her shop could continue to operate on Prince Edward Road. Authorities earlier said they expected that the redevelopment would affect less than 20 per cent of florists in the area.
Concern group member and retiree Ada Lee, 60, said the redevelopment plan was “incomplete” as it overlooked a few decade-old buildings along Flower Market Road. Besides this, the Liber Research Community has criticized the development issues in Hong Kong; it went on to oppose the proposed construction of several parks and leisure spaces into tall buildings like hotels and offices.
