The project questions that who owns Wan Chai Market and how the government deals with dissonance of different stakeholders in redeveloping Wan Chai Market.

 

Traditionally, Hong Kong government adopts a “top-down approach”, instead of “bottom-up approach” to consult members of community on its urban renewal programs related to their livelihood. According to the “Ladder of Citizen Participation” theory by Sherry R. Arnstein, we can find that Hong Kong government is always in the low side level in urban planning, which is non-participation of citizens.

 

When the government decided to redevelop Wan Chai District in 1990s, it neglected a formal public consultation and lack of transparency to some stakeholders. Public consultation is merely a formal procedure as required by the existing legislations. Decisions have then been made by a small group of government officials and professionals. But you may doubt that if they can really represent to us - the locals even they are experts in urban planning field.

 

Dissonance is intrinsic to Wan Chai Market redevelopment plan. Many parties such as the residents, stall owners, authority, landlord and professionals involved in this redevelopment project and each of them have adopt different stances in urban renewal or conservation according to their interests. However, developer can just pay the land fees and have legislative right to demolish a place which consisting collective memory and ownership of many Hong Kong people. Hegemony becomes another issue to the Wan Chai Market redevelopment project.

 

Nowadays, although public needs and demands seem have been taken into consideration by the power-holders finally, Wan Chai Market with so-called preservation scheme becomes a residential commercial complex buildings. It has loss its original historical, social and cultural meanings, and only remains its appearance, is it still preservation? Perhaps the so-called preservation scheme of Wan Chai Market is just a strategy and gimmick used by government to conduct urban and economic development with fewer objections of the stakeholders.

 

Followed by the rapid economic development in Hong Kong, many valued heritage sites are neglected, or used a wrong approach to develop by the government. It is hoped that there will be a higher level of community participation in joint partnership with the government and other stakeholders in heritage planning for the future growth of Hong Kong.