Flower market forward-thinking plan defended

Eunice Lam

The head of the Urban Renewal Authority has dismissed criticisms that the redevelopment of the famed Mong Kok Flower Market is damaging its unique characteristics.

Managing director Wai Chi-sing defended the project on his blog, saying that while preserving the history of the flower market is important, it is more important to provide more space and a sustainable operating environment for florists.

"The average age of the buildings at the flower market has exceeded 50 years," Wai said.

If the area were not systematically redeveloped by the authority and each building were developed individually by different private developers, it would in turn bring consequences for the integrity of the flower market.

"Shop tenants would not only lack compensation assistance from the URA but also transitional or relocation options. In this scenario, how would the atmosphere and characteristics of the flower market be preserved and continued?" he said.

The development scheme at Sai Yee Street and the flower market gazetted on March 15 spans an area of about 29,315 square meters and affects about 275 households for a total acquisition cost of about HK$2.5 billion.

The authority will build an "urban waterway" between Boundary Street and Nathan Road and a waterway park as a new "blue-green feature" to rejuvenate the image of Mong Kok.

Wai added: "The opinion of equating redevelopment with the destruction or elimination of local characteristics, while ignoring problems faced by flower market operators as well as the long-term sustainable development of the market, is not forward-looking and not conducive to the long-term development of Hong Kong."

He added the URA surveyed some 100 florists and 700 visitors before the project was launched earlier this month.

The survey found that florists had three major problems: lack of space to display goods, space for loading and unloading, and parking spaces.

In response to concerns, the URA proposed to move one of the construction sites backward to free up more space for shops to display goods.

It also suggested building a multipurpose complex and a public car park for florists' convenience.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com