Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ11: Tai Po Hui Market

     Following is a question by the Ir Dr Hon Ho Chung-tai and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (November 3):

 

Question:

 

     It has been reported that due to the excessive number of stalls selling the same type of products and poor patronage, many stalls in the new Tai Po Hui Market, which came into operation on September 1, this year, have difficulties in keeping business afloat, and quite a number of them have even closed down. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

 

(a)  the data and methodology used to determine the number of stalls selling the same type of products;

 

(b)  the current vacancy rate of the stalls in the market;

 

(c)  the total rental income forgone as a result of the stalls being left vacant since the opening of the market; and

 

(d)  measures to improve the market's business environment?

 

Reply:

 

(a)  The Tai Po Hui Market was built to replace the Tai Po Temporary Market.  The Tai Po Temporary Market was built in the early 1980s to re-site on-street hawkers in Tai Po.  Because of its temporary nature, the facilities of the market were relatively primitive.  In order to provide a modern and permanent market for local residents, when the former Provisional Regional Council approved the development of an 8-storey complex in Tai Po in 1998, the ground and first floors of the complex were designated as a new market and the second floor a cooked food centre for relocation of all the tenants in the Tai Po Temporary Market.  The number of a given type of stalls in the Tai Po Hui Market was decided in accordance with the number of the same type of stalls in the Tai Po Temporary Market.

 

(b)  Apart from 7 stalls frozen for specific purposes, there are 321 stalls available in the Tai Po Hui Market.  As at end-October 2004, 7 stalls were vacant.  The vacancy rate was 2.18 per cent.

 

(c)  In accordance with the existing policy to alleviate any financial hardship that re-sitees may suffer due to the move, the Government has waived the first two months' rental and air-conditioning charges for the tenants relocated from the Tai Po Temporary Market.  The Tai Po Hui Market was commissioned on  September 1, 2004.  The rent-free period for these tenants lasted until end-October 2004.

 

(d)  To improve accessibility of the Tai Po Hui Market, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been working with the Architectural Services Department to explore the feasibility of providing two more side entrances near the main market entrance.  More signage at appropriate locations will also be provided to help attract and direct customers to the new market.

 

     To improve patronage at the market, FEHD has been carrying out a series of publicity and promotional activities.  To inform the public of the opening of the new market, advertisements were placed on newspapers and at railway stations/bus shelters in the Tai Po District and posters sent to resident associations nearby and local organizations in Tai Po in late August/early September 2004.  To encourage spending in the market, FEHD has been conducting two promotional events (including a lucky draw and a recipe competition) from mid-October to mid-November 2004.  Response to the promotional activities has been encouraging.  More activities such as exhibition will be conducted in the months ahead to attract patrons.  To provide a better shopping environment, FEHD will consult market tenants on the installation of customer-oriented facilities such as lockers.  Together with the efforts of the market tenants, we hope to create a favourable shopping environment and more business opportunities.

 

Ends/Wednesday, November 3, 2004

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