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Pier's makeover spells ruin for shop owner

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Ms Kam has been holding a clearance sale at her Star Ferry shop for more than two months - because she does not know when she will have to close.

While conservationists, artists and activists are launching an 11th-hour bid to save the pier and its clock tower from the wrecker's ball, many of its shop owners fear their businesses are doomed. The 48-year-old building will be replaced by a huge shopping centre. The new Central pier - from which Star Ferry will operate after the old pier is closed - wants an image makeover.

Ms Kam, who declined to give her first name, believes there may be no place for a shop such as hers, which sells cheongsams and other tourist curios, at the new location.

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'It was made clear to me that I wouldn't be able to move my business to the new pier,' she said in her 98 sq ft shop called Chong-po, where many items have been reduced in price by 50 to 60 per cent.

Ms Kam, 48, has held a lease at the popular location for four years, but is dreading the pier's closure.

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'Because I haven't been given an exact date as to when the pier will close, my lease keeps getting extended every few months. I never know what's going on and even though the lease was recently extended from August 15 to October 15, I still don't feel very secure.'

She said she called a representative at Star Ferry in February to find out her options. She did not consider submitting a business proposal to the leasing agents at the new pier because she felt after the phone call that smaller family businesses were not favoured.

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