I have to give credit where it’s due: The South China Morning Post put the issue of the impending death of the market on Peel Street in Soho, where it belongs: as the headline story on the front page of Sunday’s paper. They even backed it up with a companion piece on the failure of the ‘updated’ wet market in Stanley and how the re-development there has been a complete failure. Well done.
I am so disheartened that the market in Soho will soon fall victim to redevelopment. Visit the market anytime during the day and you will find a vibrant, busy neighbourhood full of colour and life. It not only provides a much needed place to buy fresh produce, meat, poultry and fish, as well as gourmet ingredients and fresh cult flowers, it also provides tourists with an “authentic” Hong Kong experience. Tourists love the market – it is one of the few original features in our city which is becoming crowded with mass-franchised shopping and “re-created” historical sites.
In my opinion, the market is part of Hong Kong heritage and it’s survival deserves to be preserved with the same passion as was given to the Star Ferry clocktower.
But let’s not make the same mistake twice. Don’t wait until the market is being swept away to show the government how much you care. Let’s speak up now while there is still hope.
My one criticism (today) of the SCMP is that they didn’t include an “action list” of how the public can make their voices heard. I would like to have seen a list of names, emails or phone numbers of those we can contact.
I hope the media will continue to champion the cause of saving the market. I, for one, am planning to figure out how I can make a difference.