The Lost Memory: When Old Amongst New

Walk into an old residence, and now you place yourself in a real Mong Kok. When people are sharing with 6 neighbours in a floor in Hong Kong Island housings, the Mong Kok dewellers are comparatively living generously.

Two doors a floor and fourteen neighbours in one block. Even in its hottest season, when the living room was naturally aired, energy was environmentally saved.

Used to be an area with many grass roots labors from mainland China, the 'villas' business (Family Hostels) is very prosperous in the early days. It is still in the service in the main streets in Mong Kok, where you can get a HKD150 accomodation in Hong Kong.

'The landmark here, used to be the Mong Kok Stadium.' said Mr Chan, the book store owner, who has lived in Mong Kok for more than 30 years, 'It is not until the past few years that the newly built shopping mall, the Langham Place, replaced it and become the new landmark now.'

Now the controversy issue lies in the so-called ‘K28’( Sai Yee Street ) Urban Renewal Project. In which the project will compensate all the dewellers living within the Sai Yee Street, the Argyle Street, the Fai Yuen Street and the Nelson Street area, (check the map here ) , and remove part of the famous Sneaker Street ground floor traders (Fai Yuen St.), and finally build up a new sports shopping mall. (See Effect here ). About 80% people have moved out, only few people are not satisfied with the price yet. The government, the Urban Renewal Authority, negotiated with each family by single different prices and finally would buy all the blocks off and sell them in the package to the local majoy developers to redevelop this area, which will drive many loyal sportswear traders out, who, are the real heroes of this famous street for many years.

Click the soundslide below and have a visual tour in these old buildings.

Mong Kok Beat: The Old and Young Faces

Remember that in Mong Kok, people don't remember your faces. But still, Mong Kok is such a great place that 'everyone can go, and everyone can live.'

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