Short Term Measures

Strengthen communication channels

There is not much things we, as residents, can do in the short term but the District Council can consult more with the local community organizations in order to address the implications and possible impacts for the on-going retail gentrificaiton process.

Community organizations are also suggested to monitor and participate actively in the planning process. Participatory planning model should also be adopted so that community consultation can help minimise the negative impacts of gentrification.

Mr Peter Lo, the Tsuen Wan District Councillor, mentioned that in the future, 8 new middle-to-high income residential buildings will be added in Tsuen Wan West. As a result, the District Council needs to monitor the process in order to prevent the prevalence of chain stores in Tsuen Wan and neglect developments of local businesses.

Long Term Measures

Strengthen promotional strategy on local characteristics and set up special economic project for hawkers and food

Tsuen Wan's uniqueness lies on its interwine between old and new businesses. Though current research does not suggest severe negative impacts caused by gentrification, the high land rent problems requires negotiations between different businesses and the landowner.

As suggested by Mr.Lo, making the shops smaller by the owners can solve this problem. But recent examples have been suggested in the SHi Lin Food Streets that it may not be long-term profitable. It seems like that small businnesses have to squeeze their ways in secondary streets or upstairs stores in Tsuen Wan for living.

It is recommended that the District Council can explore on alternatives to promote the local characteristics of streets after revitalization and protect some of the local fabric to prevent the intrusion of the newer business. For the Hau Tei Square, it demonstrates the uniqueness of hawkers culture in Tsuen Wan that should be treasured. However, the businesses there have a great drop in profits and perhaps subsidies and collaboration projects such as flea market can be done so as to preserve the tradiitonal fabric and keep their promise.

Conclusion

All in all, it is difficult to quantify the displacement nor gentrificaiton and the research did not find severe outcomings in retail gentrification of Tsuen Wan.

Yet, it is important to carefully monitor situations before Tsuen Wan has developed a worrying trend in commodification of shopping experiences. At the same time, we also have to keep in mind that changes in retail shops is a natural phenomenon and gentrification may not neccessarily lead to poor sense of belongings. For instance, the Tsuen Wan Jewellery and Goldsmith Square has slowly evolved into places selling domestic appliances concentrated. This reflects that even intervention may not fully control shops' evolution. However, local intervention sometimes could sometimes help enhance the image of the Tsuen Wan District. Therefore, it may be difficult to judge a sustainable practice for the past and future generations.

Tsuen Wan nowadays has a unique vibe in combining old and new shops together. Small shops only displaced to other streets or upstairs stores but remained inside Tsuen Wan. At the same time, the high mobile population flow helps attract visiors and local residents here in Tsuen Wan. People can buy all sorts of goods ranging from low-end to high-end products. It is hoped that this situation could be keep in the future.