ABOUT

香港傳統的露天街市正在逐一消失。不少在新區長大的年輕人，都沒有體驗過這些零星分佈在舊區的街市。其中一個原因，是因為市區重建的方案，把整個街市消滅，逼使原居民祇能夠光顧大集團旗下的超級市場。但背後的原因，大家都相信，有時候可能牽汲官商勾結，有時候是因為新政府要消滅殖民時代的社區歷史。其中一個例子，是服務社區超過一百六十年歴史的嘉咸街街市。當中不少商戶因為這些重建項目而結業和失業，因為它們無法負擔一個商業舖位的租金。 

雖然一個街市的地理位置是露天的還是室內的，對它的實際功能並沒有根本性的影響，但它們所能提供的生活質感和社區歸屬感是絕對不同的。一個傳統的露天街市的感覺是：熱鬧融洽、人來人往、叫賣聲此起彼伏、檔主與顧客有講有笑、天晴的日子有陽光、天陰的日子有雨點、街市兩旁亦有風格和年代不同的建築物，這些街市累積了一代人又一代人的經歷和感情。

這些老好的街市，是不應該被一些由政府和地產商規劃的千篇一律的商場取代。一個社區的特色，是應該被一直保存下去。而每個人的意見都有改變現實的能力。

​

Traditional street markets in Hong Kong are vanishing one by one. Many young people growing up in new towns have never set foot on these wet markets scattered sporadically in old districts. Urban renewal projects that uproot entire markets from their communities could be one of the reasons for their gradual diminishment. But most believe it is also because of backroom deals between the government and real estate developers. It could also be the new government’s attempt to wipe out traces of colonial era community history, as in the case of the hundred and sixty year old Graham Street market. Many stall owners ended up losing their shops and even jobless because of urban redevelopment, as few could afford the rent of a retail shop. 

Whether a market is in an open space or in a building will not quite affect its day-to-day operations. Yet, the different settings create vastly different lifestyles that nurtures or kills off a sense of community belonging. A street market is lively, loud. Crowds stream along the aisles against the boisterous cacophony of hawkers pitching their goods and sellers chatting with old customers. Rays come through the green awnings and raindrops trickle down stacks of oranges. Flanking the market is a bricolage of architecture from different eras. These markets are vessels of generations of memories and sentiments. 

Faceless malls of homogeneity should not replace these markets in urban redevelopment. The character of a community has to be preserved, inherited, and passed on to future generations. Your two cents can be the change.

​

......................

MIKI HO

世界太大，想法太多，仍努力摸索中的九十後學生。活於又愛又恨的擠擁城市裡，告訴自己不要做童年時討厭的那種大人。

A lamb with a messy mind living in a messy world, on the run, searching for meanings.

​

......................

​

English translation by Carolyn Lau.

​