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1. Re-created historic shops for Central redevelopment

1. Re-created historic shops for Central redevelopment
CHLOE LAI , SCMP 27 February 2007

Kwan Moon-chiu has spent his whole life working in his historic grocery shop, which is in the area to be redeveloped by the Urban Renewal Authority. Photo: Dickson Lee

The Urban Renewal Authority will re-create an avenue of old shops in a historic part of Central to revive some of the old charms of the dilapidated area, authority managing director Billy Lam Chung-lun said yesterday.

Under the plan, three-storey replicas of pre-second world war tenement houses will be built on Graham Street . The authority's plan submitted to the Town Planning Board suggested it would build six such replicas, but Mr Lam said it was too early to say what the number would be.

It is also not clear which and how many old stores would qualify for relocation to the proposed area. However, the examples Mr Lam mentioned yesterday included mostly prominent old brands such as Wong Lo Kat Herbal Tea.

The shop street is part of the authority's latest redevelopment plan, which has been dubbed Nostalgia Vibrancy: Bringing Back Old Charms and Streetscape.

"The redevelopment area is rich in culture and history," Mr Lam said. "We hope by improving the environment we will increase the historic and cultural value of the community and make it more attractive to tourists."

He described the project, expected to cost HK$3.8 billion, as a huge challenge but was confident that by creating an old-shop street the authority would help to conserve the city's heritage.

The project will cover just over half a hectare bordered by Cochrane, Gage and Wellington streets. A 140-year-old wet market will be affected, but it is not clear how much of it will be preserved. Under the master layout plan submitted to the Town Planning Board last month, in addition to the replica buildings there will be two residential blocks of 30 and 32 storeys; a 33-storey office tower and a 26-storey hotel on top of two other four-storey podiums. Shops will be housed in the podiums.

Three pre-war buildings on Graham Street will be preserved but a 135-year-old, three-storey building that houses the 80-year-old Wing Woo Ho grocery store will have only its facade on Graham Street preserved as the building is unsafe.

Cars will be allowed access to the hotel and office tower at the back of the Wing Woo Ho building.

Kwan Moon-chui, who operates a grocery and preserved-food store in the area, said he hoped he could continue to run the shop until he became too old and weak to work anymore.

The 75-year-old shop owner started working in the shop as an apprentice when he was 12.

The store was started by his uncle, who later left the shop to his father when he joined the government.

"Business is not good," Mr Kwan said. "I only earn enough to pay the rent. But I enjoy coming here every day to see the neighbours and the clients. I'm an honest businessman; everyone in the neighbourhood likes me. They keep persuading me not to give up the business.

"If given a choice, I don't know how to close the store. I will have to close it eventually, but not now, not when I'm still able to work.

"How am I supposed to pass my time when I don't have the shop to come to every day?"

He said no one from the authority had talked to him about the redevelopment plan.