Hong Kong trade cries foul over suggestions to replace Stanley Market with shopping mall

HONG KONG – The travel industry in Hong Kong has reacted with fury over a suggestion the tourism icon of Stanley Market should be replaced by an air conditioned shopping mall. Condemnation of the plan by an unnamed developer has been universal.

Outrage was sparked when the South China Morning Post, disclosed details of a developer’s plans to erect three retail blocks on 1,990m2 of government land. Officials shielded the identity of the developer.

General manager of the Marco Polo group’s three hotels in Hong Kong, Mr John Girard, said the plan would be a serious blow to all potential and repeat tourists. “I have taken literally hundreds, maybe thousands, of visitors to this landmark, mostly at their request because they have heard of the place before they came to Hong Kong. We’ve got to put a stop to this madness.”

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) lists the maze of shops, stalls and restaurants that make up the market in the old fishing port as the city’s third most popular attraction.

Mr Girard called on all members of the Hong Kong Hotels Association to protest “most vigorously”. He also asked hotels to contact travel agents worldwide to call on the Hong Kong government to reject the proposal.

“I am sure all agents include this unique attraction in their programmes. If we allow this to go ahead, it’s yet another nail in the Hong Kong tourism coffin.”

Cathay Pacific Holidays chief executive, Mr Patrick Yueng, said moving the existing stalls into a shopping mall was not a good idea. “The present form is definitely more appealing to tourists,” he said.

The Hong Kong travel industry is united in opposition to the plan with residents of the seaside suburb. Shopkeepers, restaurateurs and tour guides believe approval would “rip the heart out of Stanley” both as a pleasant town and a tourist attraction. Seven-times Hong Kong’s windsurfer champion and owner of a shoe shop, Ms Susan So, said: “Without the market, Stanley has no heart and no soul.”

Critics claim government planning officials tried to slip the plan through legal procedures secretly and with almost indecent haste.

They claim most businessmen and residents of Stanley were not given proper notice of the intended zoning amendment that would permit development.

Local residents set up a stall and in two days obtained more than 3,000 protest signatures.

Even HKTB chairman, Ms Selina Chow, had not heard about plans to redevelop the market. “I heard about plans for an 89-room hotel, which I did not consider to be a bad idea, provided it is not a monstrosity. But I never heard about a retail complex on government land.”

The HKTB did not answer questions on the issue, but the Tourism Commission has told the Town Planning Board it is opposed to plans to redevelop Stanley market. Tourism Commissioner, Ms Rebecca Lai, said: “We have pointed out a number of practical and other issues we feel relevant.”

The Commission is frequently consulted on applications that may affect the industry and assesses them on the tourism value (or otherwise) and impact of the proposal, she said.

“Our objective is to enhance Stanley as a tourist attraction. This is the guiding principle.”