Youtube link: https://youtu.be/mAoBVGyx5Wk
Transcript:
F: Hello, welcome back to another series of old vs new Hong Kong! I am Fathima and this is Angie,
A: Today we’ll be discussing Hong Kong’s charms in the old local neighbourhood of Mong Kok.
F: Hong Kong itself is a beauty and it has created new and old stuff. We shall talk about one of the places of Mongkok today, Shanghai street.
A: A well-known thoroughfare among Hongkongers is Shanghai Street, which is lined with eateries and hawker stalls. From newly constructed, contemporary buildings to antique shophouses.
F: The hawker stalls that you mentioned are rapidly disappearing due to the governmental modernization of Hong Kong. City officials took steps to limit the practice in the 1970s due to concerns of public hygiene, safety, street control and congestion.
A: These hawker stalls have another name, they can be called ‘tong-lau’ stalls as they are usually situated in poorer neighbourhoods under tong-laus.
F: I see. For the purpose of this podcast, we can call it hawker stalls, but it is interesting to know that they have another name.
A: What do these hawker stalls sell?
F: They usually sell small items like children’s toys, vapes, etc. They are usually run by elderly people and they run these stalls as their full time job on the sides of the streets. We saw a lot of them in Mongkok, right?
A: Yes, that’s right.The government may remove hawker stalls in Hong Kong to improve the city’s appearance and create a more organized urban environment..
F: However, these stalls do serve a local purpose even if they may not look modern on the outside.
A: You’re right as well.It provides residents with a less expensive option for basic daily products and snacks. Additionally, it is a mainstay for demonstrating how friendly Hong Kong’s neighbourhoods are. These kinds of stalls, which in a sense symbolise the “old Hong Kong community,” are a unique feature of the city.
F: How are these hawkers able to sell these products in their stalls?
A: Hawker stalls in Hong Kong are at risk of disappearing due to revoked licenses and a program to buy back licenses, with their numbers expected to decrease in the next 10-20 years.
F: If hawker stalls cease to exist in Hong Kong, the livelihoods of these vendors, often elderly individuals with limited education and alternative employment prospects, would be jeopardized. For many, these stalls serve as their sole source of income, making the loss particularly impactful.
A: They would definitely feel upset about this issue. These vendors, who may lack family support, could become dependent on government assistance to sustain themselves in Hong Kong. The removal of these stalls, potentially due to government actions, may also lead to unrest within this vulnerable group.
F: There are approximately 6000 hawker stalls today in Hong Kong. Remarkably, these stalls do really benefit the economy and local tourism in a positive sense. It could be culturally significant to Hong Kong and add to a feeling of old time urban vibrancy.
A: Who are and/or will be affected when it no longer exists? What are their feelings and attitudes toward this?
F: The disappearance of street hawker stalls affects multiple stakeholders. Firstly, the hawkers themselves are directly impacted by the loss of livelihood and the urgent need to seek alternative employment. Ultimately, they may not be able to survive just on the Old Age Living Allowance from the HK government.
A: Hawker stalls in Hong Kong may be a source of nostalgia and disappointment for locals and tourists, as they once provided a unique dining experience and cultural ambiance.
F: There are multiple reasons why Hong Kong is losing its traditional upbringing of hawker stalls. There are many factors associated with the disappearance of these stalls.
A: One factor is urbanisation and modernity. Hong Kong has witnessed fast economic expansion and urbanisation, resulting in a shift towards more regulated and controlled urban areas. The government has imposed stronger restrictions and policies governing street vending, hygiene, and public safety.
F: Laws have hindered street hawker stalls, creating a division between stalls and locals in Hong Kong. Changing preferences towards retail malls due to the city’s global development.
A: These establishments often offer a more sanitized environment compared to the vibrant, open-air settings of hawker stalls. Upon talking about modern Hong Kong, the past and present of Hong Kong’s street hawker stalls reflect their historical significance.
F: Hawker stalls were crucial in local culture, offering affordable meals, local flavors, and goods, contributing to a vibrant urban environment.
A: However, over time, their numbers have dwindled due to various factors, leading to their present vanishing state.
F: Although the presence of traditional hawker stalls has significantly decreased, initiatives have been undertaken to preserve aspects of this culture. Some hawker stalls still operate in designated areas or as part of efforts to safeguard cultural heritage.
A:These efforts aim to maintain a connection to Hong Kong’s cultural heritage and offer a glimpse into the city’s past street life as these stalls are local to Hong Kong only and cannot be experienced anywhere else.
F: What is the relationship of the gradual disappearance of hawker stalls with the film ‘Walker’ by Tsai Ming Liang?
A: The film’s deliberate pacing and focus on the monk’s solitary journey prompt viewers to reflect on the changing urban landscape of Hong Kong, including the disappearance of traditional street culture like hawker stalls.
F: The disappearance of hawker stalls, which are closely linked to street culture and communal gathering, signifies the shifting dynamics and erosion of traditional urban spaces in the wake of modernization and commercialization.
A: Hawker stalls are movable to help authorities regulate vendor locations, preventing congestion, enhancing safety, accessibility, and urban efficiency.
F: Moreover, hawker stalls promote entrepreneurship by enabling easy stall establishment, reducing barriers to small business entry, supporting local entrepreneurs, and enhancing urban economy diversity.
A: The film illustrates different aspects of the city(HongKong), showcasing many hawker stalls under the bridges and the monk eating small snacks at the end of the movie portraying the ideology of hawker stalls.
F; Fathima: 3036217269
A; Angie: 3036191465