Transcript of remarks by SFH at media session
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Reporter: How would you respond to the concerns of the elderly man who you just spoke to, complaining that he may not have any income when the market is closed for 10 months, and also is not so convenient for residents when the market is closed for renovation?
Secretary for Food and Health: As far as market renovation is concerned, this particular market - Tai Wai Market - is going to have air-conditioning installation. It will take a total of about 18 months. Initially, it will take 10 months for some of the internal work to be done and the market will be closed for eight months entirely for the renovation and also for the installation of the air-conditioning. The stall rental will be waived for the entire eight months. When the renovation is completed, another two months' rental will also be waived. In this particular project, we estimate that a total of 10 months of rental will be waived. Because many of Hong Kong's local public markets were built in the 1990s, if we have to do renovation and install new air-conditioning at a market, it will be needed to close for such works because of the complexity and the age of the building. Our FEHD (Food and Environmental Hygiene Department) staff have already discussed with the market stall tenants so that they are aware of the situation and that they agree to the plan. So, we all have to work together to, hopefully, make the Hong Kong public market better.
Reporter: The tenant like the elderly man complained that he might not have any income during this period. Would the government provide any assistance?
Secretary for Food and Health: During the time when the market is closed for renovation, the rental will be waived so they don't have to pay any rent to the stall that they have originally rented in the market - that is something that the FEHD has already provided.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, March 9, 2018
Issued at HKT 17:45
Issued at HKT 17:45
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