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Miranda Yeung

Despite the objections of many Hongkongers, the 70-year-old Wan Chai Market is set to be demolished to pave way for redevelopment.

While people flock to the complex to take pictures and preserve their collective memories,  the future of about 50 stall  owners has yet to be decided.

Constructed in 1937, the Wan Chai Market at 264 Queen's Road is one of the oldest wet markets in Hong Kong. It has been listed as a Grade III History Building, and is believed to be one of the two remaining Bauhaus-style markets in the world.

The  site was sold by the Land Development Corporation - the predecessor of the Urban  Renewal Authority - to Chinese Estates Holding for redevelopment in the late 1990s.

The government's announcement that the  plan involved knocking down the market sparked strong protests. The public blamed the authorities for sacrificing heritage in the name of progress.

But their efforts have been in vain as   the old building is set to be replaced by a large shopping mall and a number of residential blocks.

The stalls  are supposed to move to a new two-storey building, situated  next to the old market, in July.

Fok Ki-hong, 20, who lives in Kowloon, visited Wan Chai Market for the first time  with  a friend last week.

'We know that the market is going to be knocked  down soon, so we came here to take photos for sentimental reasons,' said Mr Fok.

'I think both the old building and the market should be preserved. The building is unique, while the market is its soul.

'This district will not have any special characteristics  if it only consists of high-rise buildings in the future. The new market and other new buildings are unattractive, and they all look the same.'

Award-winning author Roseanne Thong, who has lived in Hong Kong for 14 years, also  believes the  market should be spared.

Her recently  published children's book, Gai See, uses colourful pictures to illustrate scenes  in the market.

'The traditional wet market in Hong Kong is a magical place where the senses come alive. Every wet market is unique, unlike the boring, faceless, air-conditioned supermarkets that look all the same,'  said the US-born author.

Thong says it is  sad that the government calls local markets 'messy and unsanitary'.

'Those are convenient terms to mask their motivations - development and money,' she said.

But she pointed out that Hong Kong people are becoming more aware of the need to preserve their culture and traditions.

'Fortunately, Hong Kong people are now clearly letting the government know that they want to maintain their attachment to the community. Wet markets  provide people with a connection to a  place, community and culture,' she said.

The  stall owners, on the other hand, are more concerned about making ends meet. With only about three months to go before their proposed move to the new building, the stall holders have yet to come to a final settlement with the Urban Renewal Authority.

They complain that the new market is badly designed, with only a handful of stores at convenient locations.

'The government has offered me space on the upper floor.  But the stall's location is out of the way. I'm afraid I will have fewer customers now,' said  Lau Mei-tsang, who has run a fruit store at the old market for seven years.

'I have still not decided whether I will move to the new market or close the store.'

Ms Lau said they haven't been told about the rent yet, but it is likely to be at least double.



This building is history