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Mong Kok residents, investors give thumbs down to plan for legal food bazaar

Government proposal ‘unanimously opposed’ by those living nearby; those in food business unhappy with large investment required and rule against cooking with fire

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For years, hawkers have lined the streets of Mong Kok during the Lunar New Year. Photo: Nora Tam

Mong Kok residents were “unanimously opposed” to the government’s proposal of setting up a food bazaar for hawkers during the upcoming Lunar New Year, Yau Tsim Mong district council chairman Chris Ip Ngo-tung said, adding that investors were also not keen.

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Ip said on Monday that the district council had consulted the owners’ corporations as well as the residents of 10 buildings near Macpherson Playground – the proposed location of the bazaar – and they were all opposed to the plan.

Yau Tsim Mong district councillor Chris Ip Ngo-tung says the council consulted the owners’ corporations as well as the residents of 10 buildings near Macpherson Playground. Photo: David Wong
Yau Tsim Mong district councillor Chris Ip Ngo-tung says the council consulted the owners’ corporations as well as the residents of 10 buildings near Macpherson Playground. Photo: David Wong

“There can be difficulty when it comes to actually making the plan work. We consulted the residents living nearby, and they were unanimously opposed to it because they feared it would affect them. It’s understandable because it will last till 2am,” Ip said on a Commercial Radio programme.

“My friends in the food business also say they are not drawn to the plan because the investment will be huge, and they are not allowed to cook with fire,” he added.

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According to the proposal, only electricity would be allowed for cooking.

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