Will The Flower Market Blossom?

26 April 2010 - Mong Kok's Flower Market is a great place to stroll around and buy peonies, orange trees and orchids. The SCMP reported on the concerns of the Flower Market's merchants now the Government has launched redevelopment plans for the area. In hidden words, the article makes the point that one should get worried as soon as the HK Urban Renewal Authority gets involved. As we have seen before, it is sometimes dubious if the Authority has its priorities and interests right, and if its connections with other layers in society do not blur objectivity and good (I won't dare to use the word 'transparent') decision-making. There are concerns that "disneyfication" of the Flower Market may further increase rents pushing out the markets' small businesses. One merchant says that the plans won't help them, as the people who come to buy flowers are locals, but the redevlopment plans are only good for tourists. And tourists don't buy flowers. It is sad to see that people start to get worried as soon as the Hong Kong Government gets involved - a Government they did not even elect themselves.