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. '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. '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. But Star Ferry general manager Johnny Leung Tak-hing said there may have been some miscommunication and all business proposals were welcomed. But he stressed the new image would be significantly different. 'As the new Central pier will become another attraction at the waterfront, it is our endeavour to have a proper trade-mix which will meet the requirements of our passengers and tourists alike. The formulation of the trade-mix is in accordance with the result of the annual passenger survey conducted by independent consultants. Shops like book stores, convenience stores, money exchange, and souvenir shops will be recruited.' Some of the other shop owners say they have made alternative arrangements. Employees of two shops neighbouring Ms Kam's said their businesses would move to the Tsim Sha Tsui pier. One man said he felt the situation was unfair for Ms Kam. 'How can you expect small independent businesses to be able to cope with all the bureaucracy of submitting detailed business plans,' he asked. Another shop owner said she was not worried and had made plans in advance to move locations. Ms Kam said she considered moving to the Tsim Sha Tsui pier, but the rent was too expensive. 'I currently pay $10,000 a month here, but the rent at the TST premises is $16,000.'