They fear they will lose out during 40-day renovation
A dispute between the management and tenants of Guangzhou's Cepa Hong Kong shopping mall has escalated over plans to renovate it. The refit could force the shops to close for 40 days without compensation.
The two sides are due to meet this afternoon, with the merchants threatening to take extreme action, such as burning the premises, if they are not satisfied with the negotiations.
The Cepa shopping mall's management company, Juntai, is planning to refit the centre from early next month to mid September and rename it Constellation Hong Kong.
Juntai is also trying to attract new investment by allowing Chinese citizens to open shops. In the past, only Hong Kong and Macau residents have been able to set up shop in the building.
There were more than 100 Hong Kong-owned stores in the mall when it opened; now there are less than 40.
The Hong Kong and Macau merchants, who have signed three-year contracts with the management company, oppose the planned changes.