Hong Kong’s century-old Flower Market district, currently threatened by a major redevelopment scheme, houses a diverse and vibrant small community.
Flower Market Path is popular with people out for early-morning strolls, and also office staff rushing to work. Retirees gather outside the sports centre for casual conversations or group exercises, jogging, stretching, or playing table tennis together.
At around 7 am every day, a morning market opens at the end of the path, where vendors sell vegetables and goldfish to early risers. An hour later, florists start arranging fresh blooms in the flower shops in preparation for opening.
From 9 am onwards, the Flower Market begins to bustle as large trucks deliver fresh flowers and plants and the first batch of customers start selecting their favourites.
Visitors continue to pass through the market in Kowloon’s Prince Edward district all day. Some come to buy and some, mainly sightseers and tourists, just to look.
The working day starts winding down around 6 pm and shopkeepers prepare to close. Residents home from work walk in the park alone or with their dogs. The elderly return to practise tai chi or play table tennis as peace descends after a busy day.
The Urban Renewal Authority redevelopment plan proposes the demolition of 35 shops and 22 low-rise buildings in the market area, and the acquisition of public land to build high-rise residential buildings, commercial blocks and a waterway park.
See also: Flower market residents fear plans to build high-rises and mall will uproot community
The URA says it aims to enhance the market’s vibrancy and solve traffic problems by including car parks in new buildings. However, according to florists interviewed, there has been no guarantee that the 28 affected florists will be allocated new stores when development is completed.
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