New Fabric Market Cleaner But Remote: Vendors

Vendors who moved into a new fabric market in Sham Shui Po said while they’re happy with the hygiene environment there, they’re worried that their business will suffer due to its relatively remote location.

Sixteen stalls moved into the new venue on Tung Chau Street on Wednesday.

They are among 49 fabric stalls that were originally located in the old market on Yen Chow Street in the same district, which closed the day before to make way for public housing.

One of the stall owners who moved into the new venue, surnamed Leung, said he’s expecting a substantial drop in business.

"The new market is cleaner and much better than the old market. The old one was humid and could get as hot as 40 degrees Celsius during the summer," he said.

"But the new market is remote and hasn't been publicised. I'll be very happy if I can keep 30 percent of my existing business."

However, one of the customers at the new market, surnamed Yeung, said she enjoyed her shopping experience.

"There were lice in the old market. The new market is clean and easy to walk in," she said.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said the new market can accommodate a total of 53 stalls.

It said 12 more stalls are slated to open from May, while the remaining 25 will be put up for auction next week.

The chairman of the Sham Shui Po District Council, Chum Tak-shing, said he hopes authorities can improve accessibility to the new market in order to boost business there.