Historic Hong Kong shops and cafes close to make way for redevelopment

Shutters crashed down for the last time on decades-old cafes and stores around Graham Street Market - but one owner vowed to fight on after Tuesday's deadline to make way for an Urban Renewal Authority redevelopment.

"I'm not giving them the keys," said Lau Lai, owner of the Kwan Lok Restaurant, a traditional Hong Kong-style cafe on Gage Street. "I think it's unbelievably unfair that only some stalls get relocated to the new market after it's been built, but none of us cooked-food stores. Why?"

While stalls selling fresh food and vegetables will be rehoused as part of the redevelopment of the old area in Central, the HK$800,000 compensation Lau received after a decade of running the business will not even cover severance pay for her 11 staff.

First announced in 2007, the URA's redevelopment will add new shops, a hotel and offices to the area around Gage Street, Cochrane Street, Wellington Street and Kin Sau Lane.

But there is no room for most of the old shops or restaurants. Tenants have been moved out in phases since 2013.

Most owners are resigned to the fact they will never find new premises nearby.