The surviving code of street market

Abstract

Standing a long history in Hong Kong, the street market is not only an important historical and cultural symbol but also key social space to the community. The storekeepers usually expand their goods on the street. The street space creates more chance of communication for both storekeepers and consumers. The business is not just commercial, but social. Buyers and sellers are friends, or even neighbors. Activating the street space and closing the interpersonal relationship, street market has become an important part of the community. With the process of urbanization, demand of development and changing of lifestyle, certainly, the influence of politics and economic, Hong Kong government once privatized some street markets, means moving it into specific building or even displace it by indoor market. Many street markets, with long history, have been vanishing away, such as Graham Street Market. However, the street markets, in some areas like Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok and Shau Kei Wan, which is in the process of transition from the old to the new, are still active and booming. Today, street market faces its challenge its audience decreases. “In less than twenty decades, life in Hong Kong has changed so drastically that the conditions of the current generation are no longer comparable with the generations before them. Generations of the 21st century purchase their necessities from corporately owned supermarkets. Their social exchange occurs in front of the computer screen via the vast space of internet. Since participants’ engagements are the vehicles of the street market’s essence. Without engagement exchange, the street market will only wilt with time.” It seem like the street market does not meet the modern life and will eventually be replaced. Unexpectedly, some street markets are still activated and dynamic. This thesis will set scope of study on wet market in Hong Kong Island where is the starting point of the street market, focus on the physical nature of street market, make a conclusion on the code of its surviving. Furthermore, provide a strategy to reactivate the vanishing market and plan the future development and promotion.