Residents of Fa Yuen Street, where the a killer fire claimed nine lives on Nov 30, have called on the government to pay more attention to their needs and feelings. People who live in the neighborhood say the government has been focusing on stall owners who have been given a strong say in the post-tragedy reconstruction and arrangements.

The Nov 30-fire burned through six buildings on Fa Yuen Street. The fire, which broke out at midnight, started in a hawker stall, and spread to the buildings nearby. The fire set off a heated debate in the city about the regulation of the stalls.

Wong Suk-man, who lives on the second floor of Building No 191, across from where the fire took place, said the government has made concession to the stall owners because they had raised a loud cry about what they had lost and how hard it would be for them to make a living.

"We didn't say a word but that doesn't mean that we, the residents, are not victims. We have been quite good citizens, which didn't help us to get what we deserve," said Wong, who has lived on the street for more than thirty years.

Wong complained that three asphalt pavement maintenance trucks disrupted the neighborhood for three days, until 3 am, after December 17. She said the loud noise was highly disturbing to residents nearby.

"I tolerated for the first two days, however, I just couldn't stand it anymore. On the third day, I called the police. The police told me they couldn't do anything about it. It was out of their hands," said Wong.

Wong, together with her neighbor, a woman, surnamed Ho, called the Environment Bureau, where they received the same reply. On the second day, Wong filed complaints with every department she could. Then she had a reply from the bureau, saying it represented the Lands Department. She was offered an apology over the disruptive noise.

Ho, who lives next to Wong's building, said the smell of asphalt has made her nauseous. She has had to keep the window closed since the fire.

Wong complained that the government didn't have to rush the reconstruction at night. The street was already sealed off. Wong blamed the government's rush job on the stall owners, who had been demanding that the government reopen the street as soon as possible.

Wong was critical of the apparent lack of cooperation between internal departments of the government.

"We don't have a clue about where or to whom to turn when we want to complain," argued Wong.

Wong Kin-san, vice-president of Mongkok District Residents' Association, said after the fire, the government has been pushing hard to apply stronger regulations on the hawkers. That indirectly has heightened tensions between the residents on the street and the hawkers.

"What the government did only intensified the contention in the community. It didn't help to improve the situation or solve the problems," said Wong, who will start term as district councilor next year.

According to a survey done by the association, 84 percent of the 121 respondents cited the management of the stalls as the most disquieting problem on the street. Fire safety came next, with 76 percent respondents citing it as a key concern.

stushadow@chinadailyhk.com

China Daily

(HK Edition 12/24/2011 page1)