Sneakers and sportswear should be key concepts in property developers' proposals if they hope to win the tender to redevelop 'Sneaker Street' in Mong Kok, a non-executive director of the Urban Renewal Authority says.
Fred Li Wah-ming was speaking hours after the authority's chairman, Edward Cheng Wai-sun, had reiterated that the run-down buildings in Sneaker Street would be bulldozed despite opposition from store operators there.
Mr Li, who is also a Democratic Party legislator, said: 'Sneakers and sportswear must be a concept when developers submit their tender proposals.'
The plan to redevelop part of Sai Yee Street, Nelson Street and Fa Yuen Street, known for its profusion of sports-shoe shops and nicknamed Sneaker Street, was first announced in 1998 by the former Land Development Corporation.
There is disagreement on whether the authority should go ahead with a plan announced 10 years ago.
Shops in the street formed the K28 concern group, demanding the authority renovate their buildings so their businesses would not be affected. They also asked the authority to buy out landlords who wanted to move out. But residents eager to move out formed a separate group and demanded the authority buy their properties as soon as possible.
