Operator of used-car mart Automall hits out at bureaucracy
Automall operator due to shut Tsuen Wan outlet after officials reject renewal bid
The operator of a car mart has asked the government to pay more attention to the second-hand-car industry, as one of his showrooms faces closure despite a big demand for such vehicles.
Henry Au Cheung-yuen, managing director of Automall, said his showroom in Tsuen Wan stopped operating in September after the Town Planning Board refused to renew its approval for such use at the premises.
The board had approved the same applications three times since 2004. The Planning Department did not say why Automall's renewal attempt was rejected after three previous approvals.
Automall has lodged an appeal, which will be heard on Friday. Au also wrote a letter to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, saying bureaucratic intransigence had stifled used-car showrooms.
The sector hired more than 10,000 employees, he later told the South China Morning Post.
The number of legitimate bays for the display of pre-owned cars could dwindle from about 1,900 in August to 900 by March, the businessman predicted, as other car marts were facing similar problems.