The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) organised a media tour yesterday to brief reporters about its work on relocating stalls from the Red Market, which was closed yesterday for renovation, to the Provisional Almirante Lacerda Market, which opens today.
The government has said that the renovation of the heritage-listed Red Market will get off the ground in May.
The Red Market (紅街市), which opened in 1936, was listed as a heritage site under the category of “buildings of architectural interest” in the 1990s. It is the only wet market building in Macau listed as a cultural heritage site.
The Red Market, officially known as Almirante Lacerda Municipal Market (提督街市), is located on the corner of Avenida de Horta e Costa (高士德大馬路) and Avenida do Almirante Lacerda (提督馬路).
The Provisional Almirante Lacerda Market (臨時提督街市) that opens today is located in Rua Marginal do Lam Mau (林茂海邊街).
The temporary wet market building that opens today was previously also used as a temporary market for the nearby Patane Market (沙梨頭街市) when it was redeveloped. Since the new Patane Market came into service in March 2018, the building had not been in use until today.
A previous statement of IAM underlined that the renovation of the Red Market building is needed due to its ageing structure and facilities. The renovation is slated to last 657 days, according to a previous announcement by the bureau.
Temporary market is ready
During yesterday’s media tour, IAM Market Affairs Director Leong Cheok Man introduced the two-storey temporary market, saying that the ground floor is for fish, groceries, tofu and sprouts, while the first floor is for vegetables, fresh meat, chilled meat, and groceries.
Leong underlined that 124 stalls have been relocated and the respective equipment was installed yesterday. Leong said he believed that the vendors are fully ready to serve residents today.
Leong added that the Red Market building has been fenced off to start anti-rodent work and improve environmental hygiene, with the aim of minimising the impact on residents living nearby.
Leong also said that free shuttle buses between the Avenida de Horta e Costa area and the temporary market have completed trial runs and begin operating today, with the bureau assessing the benefits during an upcoming two-month trial and making adjustments accordingly.
Food court expected
Fresh Fish Merchants’ Association President Kuan Wai Meng told reporters during the tour that compared to the Red Market, the temporary market is cleaner, with better air quality, wider passageways, and larger stall areas, which optimises the business environment.
Kuan underlined that he has spent 20,000 to 30,000 patacas on his stall’s relocation, including replacing the fish tanks and air conditioners in line with the size of the new stalls. Kuan said that he expected a food court to be set up in the temporary market and in the Red Market after its renovation to increase the foot traffic.
‘Not sure’ about business prospects
Macau Fresh Meat Merchants’ Association-Iong Hap Tong President Che Su Peng told reporters that it was hard to predict the future operation of the temporary market, and that it would take time for residents to get used to the new market.
Che said he worried there will be competition with the new Patane Market, also known colloquially as “Water Market” (水上街市). However, Che added that competition might also lead to an improvement in the services. Che said he had expected that there would have been more parking spaces reserved for the temporary market for the convenience of customers.
Vendors move their equipment and utensils to the temporary market yesterday.
Vendors perform a traditional Chinese blessing ceremony at the temporary market yesterday.
This photo taken yesterday shows the the Red Market after the vendors’ relocation yesterday. Photos: Ginnie Liang
