88% of submissions about Hong Kong flower market redevelopment oppose plan, urban planning body says
Hong Kong Free Press
Almost 90 per cent of submissions received about the proposed redevelopment of Hong Kong’s historic flower market opposed the scheme, the city’s urban planning body has said.
In a report published last Wednesday, the Town Planning Board (TPB) said it had received 767 representations during a two-month period of public inspection from mid-August to mid-October. Among them, 674 were against the redevelopment, while 70 showed support, and 13 both supported and opposed the scheme.
Those who submitted opinions will be given a chance to present them to members of TPB in meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, before the TPB decides whether to amend the proposal to meet or partially meet the opinions expressed in the representations.
The flower market redevelopment, a scheme proposed by Urban Renewal Authority (URA) last March, has been criticised by former chief executive Leung Chin-ying and lawmaker Doreen Kong, as well as residents and florists in the community, who have formed a concern group to advocate against the project.
The scheme would see more than 200 trees uprooted, 33 flower shops affected, and vast swaths of public land taken to develop shopping malls and residential high-rises in the century-old commercial community.
According to the TPB’s report, representations against the scheme questioned why the URA had suggested using such a large area of public land, which makes up 90 per cent of the proposed development area, to turn into residential and commercial zones. Others mentioned the lack of a clear standard used to select which buildings would be revamped.
Submissions also expressed concern that the redevelopment would “destroy the integrity and vibrant ambience” of the flower and expedite gentrification.
“Replacing the traditional Flower Market with shopping malls will not favour the development of Hong Kong’s tourism and economy,” one submission included in the TPB report read.
The 674 submissions that opposed the scheme came from individuals as well as the concern group, the incorporated owners of a 64-year-old building that faces redevelopment, a church with over 70 years of history that would also be redeveloped, and the NGO Designing Hong Kong.
Among the 70 submissions showing support for the scheme were those from members of the Yau Tsim Mong District Council, a member of the Land and Development Advisory Committee, the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, and the URA.
They said the redevelopment could address issues relating to the poor condition of buildings, utilising land resources to increase housing supply, and help “add vitality to the area and maintain the unique character” of the market.
No need to amend scheme – gov’t
In response to the submissions, the government’s Planning Department said in the report that the development scheme “should not be amended to meet the representations.”
“A number of measures have been proposed under the project to preserve and enhance the distinctive character of the Flower Market, including the retail shops along Sai Yee Street and Flower Market Road, ” the department said. The proposal “has struck a balance between meeting redevelopment needs and minimising disruption to the Flower Market operation,” it added.
Chan Kim-ching, a researcher with development policy think tank Liber Research Community, told HKFP on Monday that the URA had not provided discernible measures to show how the characteristics and vibe of the flower market would be preserved through redevelopment.
“URA’s former projects, like Wedding Card Street, did not prove to be a successful example of preserving a historic community… And now it’s hard to persuade the public, or even the merchants there, into belief that the flower market will be well preserved,” Chan said in Cantonese.
Lee Tung Street in Wan Chai, which was known for its wedding card crafters, before it was transformed by the URA into a pedestrianised commercial area. After proposals for its redevelopment were announced, residents and local business owners formed a concern group called H15 to protest the plans. The concern group’s representations were rejected by the URA and the Town Planning Board.
The redevelopment eventually introduced four high-rise apartments and a low-rise shopping mall developed by Sino Land and Hopewell Holdings. These blocks are now called the Avenue, with most shops branches of large chains.
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