Henrik Cheng
Jacky Mok
Link: https://youtu.be/QWiQWTG3TB0
J: Hey Henrik, have you seen Johnnie To’s movie “Breaking News” before? How exciting it is!
H: The one with Nick Cheung as a police inspector? Of course! It is one of my favourite old Hong Kong movies! I have actually been to Man Wah Sun Chuen before, the place where the movie took place. There were so many restaurants!
J: Well… It is a shame that in the two years since the outbreak of the COVID-19, many restaurants have closed down, and daily shops in the area have gradually returned. The new tenants have been convenience stores, food stalls or large supermarkets opened by South Asians. Did you know that Man Wah Building may also disappear in 10 years?
H: What do you mean? Man Wah Building is vanishing?
J: It might just be… According to a study conducted by the Urban Renewal Authority back in 2021, they were planning to restructure and regenerate old districts like Man Wah Sun Chuen, the estate where Man Wah Building is in.
H: But why Man Wah Sun Chuen? Aren’t there other old districts to redevelop?
J: Yes, but when you think about it, Man Wah Sun Chuen is the perfect place for redevelopment.
H: How?
J: Well… First off, it is a site where three MTR railways converge, it is next to the Austin Station, the West Kowloon station and the Jordan station, making it highly accessible.
Secondly, it is near a high-end commercial and residential district in West Kowloon. I’m sure that you have heard of the ELEMENTS mall and private housing estates like the Cullinan and Sorrento. It has the potential to transform into the next Central Business District like Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, making Man Wah Sun Chuen an untapped gold mine for developers.
H: I surely have heard of ELEMENTS and Sorrento, those places are really expensive! However, I am concerned for the current residents and businesses in Man Wah Sun Chuen. Won’t the rent there skyrocket after the redevelopment? They surely cannot afford places like Sorrento and ELEMENTS. As I know, there are not only locals living there, but also many ethnic minorities. What about their living and working there?
J: Yes, that is surely a problem. I have visited a store——Jordan Mart (HK) Limited in Man Wah Sun Chuen and interviewed the owner Mark, let’s see what he thinks of the redevelopment.
J: It seems that as a member of the ethnic minority group, Mark is worried about the lost of this community and his business. I think this speaks for the other shop owners and residents of the ethnic minority community too.
H: Wow, he surely is concerned about the redevelopment plan. As he only found out about the plan through the news, I’m not sure if other people, like the residents, are even aware of the possible redevelopment!
J: Oh, it surely wouldn’t be a pleasant surprise for them. On the way to visit, I saw how inclusive and friendly this community is. There are locals who patronize ethnic minority vegetable stalls and grocery stores, and there are also ethnic minorities who patronize local supermarkets and hair salons. Unlike other places, people of different races do not discriminate against each other and love to visit each other’s shops. So much will be lost if the plan is to be executed. To the residents, not only will they be kicked out of their homes, but they will also lose the community they love. For what? More offices, hotels, luxury properties and malls? Do we need another Central? Is it worth the sacrifice?
H: For another commercial district, we are losing another place of collective memory and historical value. Soon, old buildings like Man Wah Building will only be seen in old films in the past. Breaking News, along with other old movies, will serve as documentary for these lost places.
J: When the URA’s redevelopment proposal is confirmed, then perhaps it marks the end of the relationship of Man Wah Sun Chuen and its people. Man Wah Sun Chuen is not just like another residential area, but a symbol of inclusiveness and home to many members of the ethnic minority group. I really hope that the government can care more for this community, listen to the people’s voices before they decide to execute the plan.
