Wholesaler Warns Against Sealing Off Fruit Market

A representative of the Yau Ma Tei Wholesale Fruit Market on Monday warned against any move to put the site into lockdown amid rising Covid-19 cases in the neighbourhood, saying the market is not designed for people to spend the night there.

Almost 80 coronavirus cases have been reported from over two dozen buildings near the fruit market, and a government adviser on the pandemic, David Hui, had suggested sealing off the district following a similar operation in Jordan over the weekend.

But the president of the Kowloon Fruit & Vegetable Merchants Association, Cheung Chi-cheung, opposed the idea, saying the move would result in fruit with a very short shelf life, such as strawberries and cherries, going to waste.

He also said there are no facilities at the market to accommodate workers during a lockdown.

"Although some workers live nearby, most of them live elsewhere in all 18 districts. What are they going to do if they have to stay in the fruit market for 48 hours? The fruit market is not for people to live in, there are no such facilities," Cheung said.

The wholesaler added that business has already dropped by half recently due to the pandemic and poor economy.

Meanwhile, a stall owner who sells expensive kinds of fruit at the market said he's concerned that his business will suffer even further if the pandemic drags on, as foot traffic has already been on the decline.

"Fruit can't be held off for selling, unlike toys and mobile phones. If we just put them there, they will expire. If the government can handle it [the pandemic] well, then we can be better prepared to reduce losses," said the man who gave his surname as Lam.