Call for more hawker sites and food bazaars during Lunar New Year festival
Groups want the government to issue temporary licences for hawkers in 10 pedestrian-only zones and playgrounds
An alliance of food hawkers and concern groups is calling on the government to set up 10 food bazaars in five districts during the Lunar New Year to prevent overcrowding in one location.
The groups suggested the government should issue temporary licences for hawkers to sell street food in 10 pedestrian-only zones and playgrounds in Kowloon East, Kowloon West, New Territories East, New Territories West and Hong Kong Island between January 28 and 30.
The government’s proposal marks their first attempt to legalise street food businesses during the festivities, after many years of tolerating them.
Lau Siu-lai, a lawmaker for the Kowloon West constituency, said it would be more realistic to organise more than one government-approved bazaar to prevent people from flooding into one area.
“If everyone crowds into Mong Kok for that one bazaar, of course the residents are going to oppose it. That’s why we should take care of the needs of most Hongkongers across the five districts,” Lau said.