Well before dawn, vans begin to pull up along Flower Market Road. Buckets of lilies and roses are lifted onto the street, hands moving quickly before the heat sets in. Later in the day, buyers drift between shops, some with lists, others guided by scent and colour. These daily rituals have shaped the Flower Market's identity as Hong Kong's most vibrant floral destination.
Day after day and year after year, that constancy has also exposed the limits of an ageing setting. Buildings are worn, streets are congested due to a lack of parking spaces, and narrow pavements struggle to cope with foot traffic and deliveries at the same time. Over time, the question of how the market can continue to develop under these conditions has become harder to ignore.
In response, the Urban Renewal Authority has taken a district-based approach to renewal, intended to create more workable conditions for the Flower Market while keeping its existing character intact.
In doing so, the URA has adopted the Integrated Approach to renewing the Flower Market area, covering redevelopment, rehabilitation, preservation and revitalisation works. The focus is on improving the built environment while enhancing existing economic and social activity.
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