Although the government has no proper policies for setting up flea market, HKSKH Lady MacLeHose Centre Group and Community Work Unit had successfully applied the permit from Leisure and Cultural Services Department for setting up flea market at the rooftop of Wing Fong Market, Kwai Chung. There are 25 stalls and stall owners include the elderly, young mother and the minorities.
The reason for the organisation to set up the market is to boost micro-economy and provide alternative marketing choice, to ease the living of the grass-root, to make wise use of public space and to encourage public participation in community planning. There are game booths, hands-on workshop and community exhibition to understand the story of Kwai Chung.
A mother from grass-root family wanted to sell her homemade accessories and baby clothing for long. Yet, the high rental fee discouraged her idea of opening a shop; Another elderly that not yet qualifies to get the old age allowance came to set up a stall to earn some money for home rent. Those businesses help the stall owner to make a living for some time.
This is the first time for HKSKH Lady MacLeHose Centre to apply for the flea market. The market was set at the rooftop of Wing Fong Market, Kwai Chung from 2pm to 8pm on 2 Oct. The centre claimed that their application had handed in on July while accepting the only in late September. The committee member from the centre believed that it took too long approval time and hoped that the government will establish the long-term policies for setting up flea market, to develop the independence and self-reliance of the low income class.
Source: HK01