26th November 2022 – (Hong Kong) We reported in December last year that the florists and traders in Mong Kok Flower Market (MKFM) continued to use the traffic lanes as their storage space. Not only their actions are selfish but they are posing risks to road users and causing traffic congestions in the area permanently.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Hong Kong Police Force started a series of stringent enforcement actions since 3rd October in various districts against shop operators and other stakeholders illegally placing goods or articles in public places or on carriageways, thereby causing an obstruction to pedestrian and vehicular flow. However, the enforcement officials have yet to conduct similar action in the Mong Kok Flower Market. The traders continued to be the rampant by piling up Christmas trees and other plants in front of their shops. The practice has been done for years and the enforcement officials have turned a blind eye without any action being done.
They occupy parking slots and roads causing constant traffic congestion in the area. In addition, one trader even parked his truck permanently on a parking lot to sell plants directly from his vehicle.
In January this year, The Yau Tsim Mong District Office (YTMDO), the Mong Kok District of the Hong Kong Police Force and the Mong Kok District Environmental Hygiene Office of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department finally took action today and met shop operators at the MKFM today reminding them again to be self-disciplined and not to place goods on pedestrian walkway or public road to cause danger. The relevant Government departments said that it will step up inspection and enforcement in the area of the MKFM, including clearing relevant goods or articles that cause street obstruction. However, it is disappointing that the situation has not improved.