By Emily Cheung Ho Ying
One vegetable vendor in the Graham Street Market said she received more than 100 lai see, the traditional Chinese blessing of a red envelope containing money, from her regular customers.
“I am so happy. Though I am old, I still can get lai see from those who are younger than me,” said Wong Sau-chen, 80, who has been running the ‘Yiu Kee’ vegetable stall in this market for 40 years.
Every morning, Ms. Wong takes the tram to Central and sets up her bright green stall at 7 a.m. At 7 p.m., she closes.
“I am happy everyday in the Graham Street Market, as I can talk with different customers everyday, and some of them have even become good friends of mine,” said Ms. Wong.
“I learned English from the foreign maids who come to the wet market for vegetables,” she said. “I haven’t been to school, but when I listen more, I start to understand English. and I can even have brief conversation with them.”
But the market, which has been running in Central for more than 160 years, is being demolished to make way for redevelopment.
According to the Graham Street Market Scheme published by the urban renewal authority, part of the market will be destroyed and reconstructed into buildings and facilities. Construction is underway.
Ms. Wong said she would be dismayed if the market neighbourhood vanishes.
“I will not leave. I have been here for 40 years and I will run the stall with my friends in the market until I die,” said Ms. Wong.