17-6-2024 (HONG KONG)Â In a city known for its relentless march towards modernity, a cherished enclave of Thai culture and Chiu Chow heritage stands at a crossroads. As Hong Kong’s Urban Renewal Authority unveiled its ambitious HK$5 billion (70 billion baht) redevelopment plan for Kowloon City, the fate of the area’s famed “Little Thailand” hung in the balance. However, a recent announcement has offered a glimmer of hope for preserving this vibrant community.
Wai Chi-sing, the managing director of the Urban Renewal Authority, revealed on Sunday that more than half of the local businesses affected by the redevelopment project have expressed interest in continuing their operations within the area. These Thai and Chiu Chow establishments, ranging from cherished restaurants to specialty grocery stores, have until July 8 to formally indicate their desire to join the relocation arrangements proposed by the authority.
Under the proposed plan, these beloved local shops have the opportunity to move back to the redeveloped site, situated between Carpenter Road and Nga Tsin Wai Road, once the project reaches completion in 2037-38. Until then, they can choose to rent shops at a concessionary rate at another renewal project run by the authority in Kowloon City, scheduled for completion by 2031. Alternatively, operators can opt to remain at that site, nestled between Kai Tak Road and Sa Po Road, if they prefer.
“Our aim is to allow affected stalls with characteristics to be able to operate during and after the construction,” Wai explained in his blog, emphasizing the authority’s commitment to preserving the area’s unique identity.
Many operators have already expressed a preliminary interest in relocating to the Sa Po Road project, seizing the opportunity to resume their businesses as early as possible upon its anticipated completion in 2031. Some have cited the project’s proximity to Kai Tak, Hong Kong’s emerging second central business district, as a potential boon for increased business opportunities.
Kowloon City, affectionately dubbed “Little Thailand,” has been a haven for Thai restaurants and grocery stores since the 1970s, when Chiu Chow men and their Thai wives settled in the area. The community’s rich cultural tapestry has become an integral part of Hong Kong’s diverse fabric, and its preservation is a matter of pride for locals and visitors alike.
The HK$5 billion redevelopment project, announced in 2022, aims to yield 4,350 flats by 2038 and include a new government complex by 2030, housing the existing Kowloon City Market and providing community facilities. While the project will affect around 820 households and 200 shops, including stalls opposite the existing market selling meat, dried seafood, vegetables, and fruits, the Urban Renewal Authority has expressed its commitment to minimizing disruption and preserving the area’s unique character.
Wai emphasized that businesses sharing the same customer base as the market could also move back upon the project’s completion and enjoy concessionary rent for five years. Additionally, the authority has pledged to provide “additional assistance” to stall owners who wish to relocate to shops near the site, marking the first time the statutory body has considered such measures to support businesses during a redevelopment project.
However, not all businesses are convinced by the relocation arrangements. The Lee family, operators of a Chiu Chow restaurant that has served lo-mei (a Chinese delicacy involving braised meat soaked in seasoning sauce) for almost 30 years in Kowloon City, expressed uncertainty about their future plans.
“The economy is not that good nowadays, and we do not know if the business will be good at a new place,” said a family member in her seventies. “If we are moving, we also need to renovate the shop and apply for a restaurant license… It can cost HK$1 million.”
She acknowledged the authority’s good intentions in keeping these specialty shops but emphasized the need to consider various factors, including the uncertain future of the family business and whether the next generation would continue running it.
