Tin Shui Wai market forces stall
Hawkers' new trading space opens with much haste, little fanfare and even fewer customers
Tin Shui Wai's new open-air hawker market opened yesterday - hastily and with little fanfare.
Doubts remain whether the government-regulated Tin Sau Market can replace an unauthorised dawn market along the town nullah, where sellers wage a constant game of cat-and-mouse with hawker-control officers.
Only a handful of people were seen walking around the market after its 8am opening, as hawkers complained of rushed arrangements, insufficient advertising and rigid rules.
"I'm still seeing how it goes. If business over here is bad, I'll probably spend my mornings back over by the waterside," said Lau Siu-mui, 68, who sells a range of dried and pickled herbs, as well as goods like rubber gloves.
"If the waterside market was legalised, of course I'd prefer to be over there. That area is more convenient for people."
Lau sold goods at the dawn market for more than five years.